Oilers, Jake Walman working on contract extension

Either way, Walman is due for a pay raise following a strong showing in the late stages of last regular season and the playoffs. The Oilers, of course, acquired him from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a conditional first-round draft pick and minor-leaguer Carl Berglund.

He scored a goal and eight points in 15 regular-season games, taking 39 shots on goal and blocking 34, before adding two goals and 10 points in 22 playoff games, with 38 shots and 66 blocks.

According to Evolving Hockey, the most likely contract Walman could sign with the Oilers is a six-year deal carrying a $6.278-million cap hit. That number would nearly double his current salary, and make him Arnott’s second-highest-earning player behind Nashville Predators defenceman Brady Skjei.

Walman was a strong play driver for the Oilers, driving offence at a 13 percent rate above league average and defence at a one percent rate above league average, according to Hockey Viz. Last year during the playoffs he lined up alongside John Klingberg to form a formidable duo, but with Klingberg signing with the Sharks in free agency, it remains to be seen who his full-time partner will be this season.

While Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard are expected to man the top pairing, the second and third remain to be seen. Some expect Walman to slot in on the third pair with Ty Emberson, but he could flip sides to play on the right side with Darnell Nurse, something that worked during last years playoffs.

Nonetheless, Walman quickly became an impact player for the Oilers on their blueline last year, and will look to follow it up this year with another strong campaign.