Projecting what Jake Walman’s extension will look like with the Oilers

Jake Walman was a revelation for the Edmonton Oilers this season.

Acquired ahead of the trade deadline for a conditional first-round pick, he entered the lineup quickly, making an impact that he carried through the playoffs as a definite bright spot.

Part of what made him such a solid target for the team, beyond his play, was his contract. With one full year left on the deal at a $3.4-million cap hit, his salary fits into the Oilers’ salary cap situation well. Given that Hockey Viz, had his on-ice impacts well above a first-pairing defenceman, it’s safe to say he provided significant value for the team.

But Walman enters this season on an expiring contract, set for unrestricted free agency as a 3o-year-old next summer. Walman will surely be looking to cash in on his next deal, as his career earnings, according to PuckPedia, total just $10.02-million.

There’s talk from Bob Stauffer that the late-bloomer is one of the players the Oilers could be looking to sign to an extension by the end of August, but what would his contract look like?

According to Evolving Hockey’s contract projections, the most likely contract for Walman is a six-year deal carrying a $6.278-million cap hit. They predict an 18 percent chance of him signing such a contract, but there are other options, too.

There’s a 17 percent chance of him signing either a five-year or three-year contract extension. The five-year deal would carry a projected cap hit of $6.079-million, while the three-year deal would be at $5.074-million.

While Walman is in his late 30s, it’s not as though there’s lots of tread on his tires, so to speak. He has played seven seasons of professional hockey, totalling 267 NHL games and 189 AHL games over that time. Prior to making the NHL he played NCAA hockey for Providence College, totalling 107 games over three seasons. That all accumulates to 563 games played over his last 10 seasons of hockey.

With the NHL’s salary cap rising, there’s a world where he signs a larger ticket contract. In free agency this summer, two 29-year-old defencemen signed long-term deals: Vladislav Gavrikov signed a seven-year, $7-million cap hit deal with the New York Rangers, while Aaron Ekblad signed an eight-year, $6.1-million cap hit extension with the Florida Panthers.

Evolving Hockey’s projections on a six-year deal fit in well in that cap range, and it’s a deal the Oilers should be looking to get done. Walman showed how valuable he was to the team last year, and given his low-tread and his mobility being such a strength, he seems like a player who can remain effective for years to come.