Jake Walman’s Repeated Scratches Put His Oilers Future in Focus

Jake Walman’s latest healthy scratch puts a difficult question in front of the Edmonton Oilers: can a defenseman signed for a major role earn his way back into the lineup, or is the fit already beginning to fray? Walman is expected to sit for the fifth time in seven games, a sharp turn for a player Edmonton hoped would help anchor its blue line.

The gap between his contract and his current role makes the situation harder to ignore. Walman is the Oilers’ second-highest-paid defenseman, yet when he has played, he has averaged fewer than 14 minutes a game in a bottom-pairing assignment. He hasn’t been trusted with the team’s biggest moments. That usage says the coaching staff wants more before handing him a larger part of the workload.

Babcock points to the details

Head coach Mike Babcock was direct when asked about the decision after Monday’s morning skate. His assessment focused on the whole game: Walman’s work without the puck, the chances he is involved in, and what he does when he has possession. Babcock said the staff reviews performances repeatedly and makes its decisions with team success and player development in mind.

“Sometimes it’s hard when it’s not going your way,” Babcock said, describing the challenge of trying to help each player improve while making lineup choices. His comments didn’t identify a single play or mistake as the reason for the scratches. Instead, they pointed to a broader evaluation of Walman’s contribution across different situations.

That distinction matters. A player can make a visible error and still have a useful night in other areas; a coach’s concern can also build through smaller details that don’t stand out in one viewing. Babcock said the staff watches games more than once and considers information from its own evaluations. The message is that Walman needs to convince the coaches through his all-around game, not rely on outside assessments to make his case.

Edmonton’s defensive group has performed better in the games Walman has missed, according to the source article. That gives the staff a practical reason to keep its current combinations in place while it weighs his next opportunity. At the same time, the Oilers need a capable version of Walman if he is to contribute at the level his role and salary suggest. His return would give Edmonton another option on the blue line, but that option only helps if the coaching staff trusts what it sees.

The next chance carries weight

The criticism around Walman isn’t limited to positioning or being a step behind the play. The source article also raises questions about his effort and engagement. NHL.com is cited for a striking detail: Walman has not recorded a hit this season. That number alone doesn’t explain his overall performance, but it fits the concern Babcock voiced about what the defenseman contributes without the puck.

For a defenseman trying to earn back trust, the next appearance has to show more than a clean shift or two. Walman needs to be reliable when the Oilers don’t have possession, stay connected to the play, and contribute when Edmonton does have the puck. The source provides no specific target from the coaching staff, so the test is the same broad one Babcock described: whether Walman’s full game gives the team what it needs.

There is still time for the situation to change. A strong performance could earn Walman a steadier place in the lineup and give the Oilers a reason to restore his minutes. But repeated scratches also make it harder for both sides to treat this as a temporary dip indefinitely. The longer the coaching staff prefers other options, the more significant the questions become about how the team plans to use him.

Walman is in the first year of a seven-year contract extension and has trade protection. Those terms add complexity if Edmonton and the player begin considering a change, but they do not make a move inevitable. Any trade would depend on the team’s plans, the contract and Walman’s willingness under his protection. For now, that remains a possibility raised by his reduced role, not a reported deal or confirmed plan.

The clearest next step is simpler: Walman has to make the most of his next opportunity. Edmonton has shown it will sit him when it believes his game isn’t meeting the standard. If he can answer that with a more complete performance, the conversation can shift back to his place in the lineup. If the pattern continues, his long-term role with the Oilers will become a harder question to avoid.