The Oilers made two quality trade deadline moves this season, but the trade for Jake Walman looks like it will be a total steal for Edmonton.
Last offseason, the Oilers also swung a deal with the San Jose Sharks for Ty Emberson that's also still holding ip as a very good deal for Edmonton, but Walman is much better.
Oilers acquired top pairing defenceman in Jake Walman
Like the Mattias Ekholm trade, the Oilers were looking to get an impact defender for their top four - but instead found a defenceman that can reliably play top pairing minutes.
In his first 6 games with the Edmonton Oilers, Jake Walman has impressed fans with his incredible passing, physical play, and all around two-way reliance.
Walman's played over 20 minutes all but once with the Oilers so far, already deploying him as a top pairing defenceman player. In those minutes too, Walman and the Oilers are dominating the competition.
Not only did the Edmonton Oilers get a fantastic player added to their team for this year's playoff run, Walman is also under contract for next season at a bargain salary of $3.4M.
The Oilers only have up a first round draft pick and low-ranked prospect Carl Berglund in the trade, and for a top pairing defenceman for two seasons at a bargain salary, that looks like a steal for the Oilers.
Oilers trade for Jake Walman looks to be amazing deal for Edmonton
Not only that, but Walman appears to be a great fit in the locker room. He actually is a longtime friend of Connor McDavid, and revealed that he closely tuned into the playoffs last season.
Add in the trade for Ty Emberson too, and the Oilers are reshaping their blueline for the future off of bargain deals from the Sharks.
Walman appears to be a fantastic addition for the Oilers on and off the ice. He and Ty Emberson both will be a big reason why the Oilers defence group is the best it's been in over a decade, and perhaps one of the best groups in the NHL.
