San Jose Sharks No. 1 defenseman Jake Walman will be a healthy scratch against the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a coach's decision.

San Jose Sharks No. 1 defenseman Jake Walman will be a healthy scratch against the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a coach's decision.

Walman was second among Sharks defensemen in ice time (22:42), one second behind his usual defense partner Cody Ceci. He led the defense in points with nine. He recently had back-to-back three-point games.

"My initial reaction is, I'm a competitor, and I want to play," Walman said. "It's the coach's decision [and] I'll respect the conversation that we had."

Walman made two mistakes against the Vancouver Canucks, which directly led to the game's first goal and the eventual game-winning goal for the Canucks. 

The defenseman also left the game briefly late in the first period after taking a hit from Brock Boeser but would return for the start of the second period. Walman told reporters he could play through the injury and that his scratching doesn't have to do with how he feels physically. 

"He's frustrated. I think everyone wants to play," Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofksy said. "Klim [Kostin] and Givani [Smith] would say the same thing, but that's the coach's decision."

Walman said his teammates were a little surprised he wouldn't be in the lineup. 

"[Warsofsky] knows how bad I want to be out there, and I think the guys around the locker room know as well," Walman said. "Kind of a little surprise with other guys, like when I told them. It's a little bit frustrating, obviously, and they're frustrated too. So, yeah, like I said, I don't know. Having a good group of guys means a lot, and I don't think it needs to be blown up out of proportion."

Walman said he expects tonight's healthy scratching to be just one game.

"In the end, even if not happy about not being out there, it's respecting the decision," Walman said. "[I'm just going to] be better for it in the end and come back stronger and ready to go. Ready to be a leader."

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