Maple Leafs linked to trade for Oilers' defenseman with 99th-percentile shot power
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Maple Leafs linked to trade for Oilers' defenseman with 99th-percentile shot power originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost certainly going to shuffle things up in defense this offseason.
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The only questions will be about which defensemen are coming and which are going.
Morgan Rielly seems a logical guy to be traded away, and much of the speculation on that side of things will center on him.
As for the guy, or guys, coming to Toronto? That's a longer list of possibilities.
One named in a recent article by Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin is Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman.
Walman leaves a bit to be desired, but he has immense physical traits.
"Should the Oilers decide they want to escape (Walman), they could search for a trade partner desperate for speed and puck-moving acumen," Larkin writes. "Walman possesses 98th percentile max skating speed and a 99th percentile max shot power, per NHL EDGE data."
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Walman may not be a perfect solution for Toronto, but he'd be exciting for those aforementioned reasons.
Besides, sometimes a change of scenery can do everyone good.
"It’s worth noting Walman’s new contract, paying him $7 million annually, kicks in July 1," Larkin writes. "It has an NMC, as does his current expiring deal, but he is from Toronto, just sayin’. It would make a lot of headlines moving him before his next contract kicks in but, let’s face it: he had a poor 2025-26 season, he’s already 30, and that extension, signed this past October, has already aged poorly."
That whole blurb sort of sums up the situation. It's not a perfect fit or move, but it's also one that could make sense for both sides.
It's certainly worth monitoring it as a possibility.