Pending free agent Jake Walman could be looked at as a potential option for the Winnipeg Jets next season.
The 2026 NHL Free Agent class is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded in league history, with names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Artemi Panarin potentially hitting the open market. While those big names dominate headlines, Winnipeg fans should keep an eye on Oilers defenceman Jake Walman as a more realistic target.
At 29, the Toronto native has developed into a reliable offensive defenceman, showing 50-point potential over a full season. He averaged 0.61 points per game this past regular season and chipped in with a 0.45 average during Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final run with solid production for a blueliner in a supporting role.
Originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Walman was once projected to be a high-end, Adam Fox-style defenceman. However, his time in St. Louis never reached that level, and he was eventually traded to Detroit alongside Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski.
While with the Red Wings, Walman showed flashes of offensive brilliance but managed just 43 points in 145 games. A cap-clearing move later landed him in San Jose, where he finally found consistent form. The Sharks gave him a bigger role, and he responded with 32 points in 50 games, quickly becoming a valuable trade asset. Edmonton took notice and acquired him before their Cup run, where he added 10 points in 22 games.
With just one year left on his contract at $3.4 million and the Oilers facing cap constraints, Walman could be on the move again. He’s drawn comparisons to Ryan McDonagh as another defenceman who thrived in a bottom-pairing role on a championship team. Like McDonagh with the Lightning, Walman combines solid two-way play with enough offensive upside to make a real impact.
If he hits the open market or the Oilers are looking to move him, Walman could be a smart pickup for a team like Winnipeg as an option alongside Luke Schenn on the bottom pair and would work as cost-effective help on the backend with playoff aspirations in mind.
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