Oilers activate defenceman Jake Walman from injured reserve

His season debut will mark his first game since signing a seven-year, $7-million AAV contract extension earlier this month.

Walman was acquired by the Oilers ahead of last seasons NHL trade deadline in exchange for a conditional first round pick and minor leaguer Carl Berglund. he will be a welcome addition to an Oilers lineup struggling to score, as in the 15 regular-season games he played last year for the team, the Oilers scored 13 goals with him on the ice at five-on-five. In 22 playoff games, the Oilers had 19 goals with him on the ice. Walman himself scored a goal and eight points in those regular season games, adding another two goals and 10 points in the playoffs.

An excellent puck-moving defenceman, he’ll help get the puck up the ice to the Oilers forwards easier, allowing them to get to work. When Walman makes his season debut, it will likely be on the second pairing alongside Darnell Nurse. The duo played together in the pre-season, allowing Walman, a left-shot defenceman, to adjust to playing on the right side — something he has done in the past.

It wouldn’t be the first time Walman and Nurse played together. They got a brief look during the playoffs last year of just under 24 minutes of five-on-five time together, posting strong underlying numbers to the tune of a 52.1 percent shot attempt share, a 60 percent scoring chance share and a 58.2 percent expected goal share.