Jake Walman hints at future with Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have plenty of former members of the St. Louis Blues on their roster thanks to the wheeling and dealing by general manager Steve Yzerman. One of the first moves of significance that Yzerman swung was sending checking forward Jacob de la Rose to the Blues in November of 2019 in exchange for Robby Fabbri, who immediately fit in like a glove with his new Detroit teammates and would eventually be rewarded with a contract extension. 

Of course, Yzerman would add former Blues in Ville Husso and David Perron to the roster this past summer. But it was one particular transaction at last season's NHL Trade Deadline that has paid dividends for Detroit that not many saw coming. Veteran defenseman Nick Leddy, who agreed to a one year deal with Detroit in the 2021 offseason, was shipped to St. Louis in exchange for bottom six forward Oskar Sundqvist along with defenseman Jake Walman. 

Walman was a regular on Detroit's blue line after the acquisition, but underwent offseason surgery which delayed his return to the lineup. But since his season debut in November, he's turned into one of the team's most reliable players. Right now, he's averaging just under 19 minutes of ice time per game, and also features an impressive +18 plus minus rating. 

And let's be honest, his incredible "Griddy" celebration after netting the OT winner against the Penguins in late December certainly endeared himself to fans: 

Walman has the chance to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. But if he continues his current trajectory with the team, they will almost certainly see fit to reward him with an extension. How does Walman himself feel about continuing his relationship with the Red Wings beyond this season? 

Per Max Bultman of The Athletic, it sounds as though those chances are good. 

"I think we're building something here, that's all I'll say," Walman stated. 

Detroit certainly is building something, and right now, they find themselves in a Wild Card postseason spot.