Despite sustaining an injury against the Maple Leafs last Friday, Jake Walman remains a possibility to play Wednesday against New Jersey

Among the reasons the Detroit Red Wings' 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Friday stung was an injury sustained by defenseman Jake Walman in the second period.

Walman stumbled then fell awkwardly into the net while pursuing Leafs forward Auston Matthews and was unable to finish the game, having played just 12:29.

Since arriving in Detroit in the middle of the '21-22 season, Walman has emerged as a central figure in the Red Wings' defense corps, especially in the chemistry he's shown with Moritz Seider since being paired with the German midway through last season.  

This season, he has four goals and three assists in 17 games, which ranks him third among the team's defensemen in points.  To state the obvious, any prolonged absence would be a major loss to reckon with.

At his first media availability since returning from Sweden, Derek Lalonde said today, "He'll be questionable for practice tomorrow, and then we'll see where he's at for Wednesday [against the New Jersey Devils]," also noting that Detroit would be comfortable using its other six defensemen in the Devils game should Walman prove unavailable.  

Even if his availability against New Jersey isn't a certainty, it's a positive update from Lalonde as it sounds as though the Red Wings dodged the bullet of having to make do without Walman for any prolonged period.

Also from THN Detroit

Red Wings Assign Czarnik Assigned to Grand Rapids; No Corresponding Call-Up...Yet

Is it Time to Worry About Marco Kasper's Slow Start in Grand Rapids?

Augustine Backstops Spartans to Sweep Over Top-Ranked Wisconsin

Bertuzzi Burns Wings, Third Period Collapse, Compher Line Struggles, Lyon Holds Firm: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Statistical Review

"In the Third, We Come Out and Play a Bit Scared on Our Heels": Red Wings React to a Disappointing Global Series Loss to the Maple Leafs

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 3: Swede Nylander Leads Leaf Comeback, Sending Detroit Home Sour

The Silky Mitten State Episode 4

Red Wings 4, Senators 5 (OT): Detroit Mounts Four-Goal Comeback, Only to Fall to Stutzle and the Sens in Overtime

Report: Red Wings A Candidate for Potential Winter Classic at Ohio Stadium in Columbus

Lucas Raymond's Star Turn Proves Value of NHL's Global Series