Jake Walman

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Walman was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is Jewish. He holds American citizenship through his mother Mary-Anne, a native of Providence, Rhode Island. He played junior hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) before committing to collegiate hockey with Providence College of the Hockey East. He was selected at the 2014 NHL entry draft in the third round, 82nd overall, by the St. Louis Blues. On March 28, 2017, having completed his junior season with the Friars in 2016–17, Walman concluded his collegiate career early, signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut for the Blues during the 2019–20 season. In three seasons with the Blues he recorded four goals and four assists in 57 games. On March 21, 2022, Walman was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, along with Oskar Sundqvist, and a second-round pick in 2023 NHL entry draft, in exchange for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. On August 11, 2022, Walman was re-signed as a restricted free agent by the Red Wings to a one-year, $1.05 million contract extension for the 2022–23 season. After opening the season on the injured-reserve, Walman returned and was given an increased role on the team, playing alongside Moritz Seider. Walman scored the overtime-winning goal for the Red Wings on December 28 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, during which Detroit initially trailed by a 4–0 score. He subsequently went viral for celebrating with the Griddy dance. On February 28, 2023, Walman was re-signed to a three-year, $10.2 million contract extension with the Red Wings. On June 25, 2024, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, along with a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft, in exchange for future considerations. On March 6, 2025, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Carl Berglund and a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

In Their Own Story

Walman's international aspirations faced early hurdles due to eligibility rules. Although he attended training camp for the United States men's national junior team in preparation for the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he was ruled ineligible by the IIHF for not meeting the requirement of playing two consecutive seasons in the country. Despite living in Providence, Rhode Island, for 16 months, his time there overlapped with his second season in the US, leading to a denied appeal from USA Hockey. He later accepted an invitation to join the Canadian national team for the 2023 IIHF World Championship but was forced to withdraw due to an upper-body injury prior to the tournament's start. Professionally, he moved through trades on March 21, 2022, to Detroit alongside Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick in exchange for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski.

Reader's Guide

Walman, a dual citizen who exclusively trained in the Canadian hockey system, attended the training camp for the United States men's national junior ice hockey team in preparation for the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Despite being considered a lock to make the team, Walman wasn't eligible to play for the Americans, despite living in Providence, Rhode Island, for 16 months due to not meeting the IIHF’s requirement of playing two consecutive seasons in the country in order to play for the national team, as he was in the midst of his second season playing in the United States. USA Hockey attempted to appeal the ruling, which was denied by the IIHF. Following the ruling, Walman was invited to the Canadian men’s national junior ice hockey team’s selection camp, but did not make the final roster. Walman accepted an invitation to join the Canadian national team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. He was however forced to withdraw his name from the roster due to an upper-body injury, prior to the start of the tournament.

Did You Know?

• Walman is Jewish and holds American citizenship through his mother Mary-Anne, who is from Providence, Rhode Island.
• He went viral after scoring an overtime-winning goal for the Red Wings on December 28, 2022, and celebrating with the Griddy dance.
• Walman was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Edmonton Oilers on March 6, 2025.