Jake Walman ceiling/best case scenario?

[dmcccdmn]

I was just reading an article from Detroi Red Wings "Puzzling Red Wings Trade Looks Worse Today" and was curious what potential he could unlock by being in the right environment. He produced 18 and 21 points in Detroit, but he has already produced 22 points in 27 games here. I'd say that San Jose is the right environment for him. What do you think his maximum potential could be if we can somehow help him unlock it?

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[Star Platinum]

Walman's stats are about 60% opportunity and 40% ability right now IMO. On this team warts and all, he's the best we've got. From an offensive standpoint, I think he's about maxed out on what he can do. Has a pretty good point shot and a decent skater in the offensive zone. His biggest limitation offensively is that some guys see passing opportunities before they happen and some see only the obvious ones and he's in the latter category as a passer.

If I had one wish for him, it would simply be for him to make smarter safer decisions with the puck in the defensive zone. Like the rest of our defense, he's prone to making panic decisions under pressure.

 

[Shark Finn]

Probably what we see right now. He's 28, not 22.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Walman has been a godsend but yeah, he's 28. I guess it's not impossible that this jump in play quality is an indication of long-term ability hitherto unseen, but I'm just going to appreciate him for what he is. If he is still playing at this level in a year an a couple months... then things get interesting.

I think the "key" to what's different is not playing with a puck-dominant defenseman in Seider and not being absolutely buried in usage like he was with Detroit. I think motivation also matters (seems like he was really upset to be dumped by Detroit, and St. Louis too if his reaction to scoring on Thursday was any indication). I truly hope he's magically become a long-term top pairing D, but I'm not counting on it.

 

[matt trick]

I could see him being a #3/4 PMD for 30-34 years, but I don’t think he’s a top pairing guy. Nor do I think he’s a 50+ point dman without being #1 in offensive usage.

Given our current D depth, I wouldn’t mind extending him for another 4 years at $5-6M. If they get Schaefer, and he, Dickinson, and Muk develop into quality D but none can play RHD, he’d be an unneeded luxury. Even then think the Sharks should be able to afford it, as they’ll only have one year of Dickinson potentially making big dollars on the backend and that’s assuming he makes the team next year.

Now if you need that money because you want to go big game hunting (or successfully grabbed a guy like Ehlers, Marner this year), I’d be fine with trading him at next year’s deadline.

I think Walman is a good to have, and may be best option available as our top PMD until we can draft a better ones

If he wants to be paid $7-9M, I’m obviously moving him on.

 

[zombie kopitar]

I could see him being a #3/4 PMD for 30-34 years

Chris Chelios will be rolling in his grave if that happens

 

[matt trick]

Chris Chelios will be rolling in his grave if that happens

lol! 30-34 years old, but 59 year old Walman would have had a spot last year!

 

[one2gamble]

He is currently his best case scenario

 

[Hodge]

Erik Gustafsson 2.0

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Erik Gustafsson 2.0

Show me one stretch of Gustafsson’s career where he played even 28 games in a #1D role with respectable results.

 

[Hodge]

Show me one stretch of Gustafsson’s career where he played even 28 games in a #1D role with respectable results.

You are here.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

View attachment 945204

You are here.

He also got creamed defensively. Chicago was a non-playoff team and they were barely better with him than without him on the ice at 5v5. I don’t care how many points he had, his results in that role weren’t respectable.