The San Jose Sharks’ extreme roster makeover continued Thursday night with another major trade as they sent top-pair defenseman Jake Walman to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 2026 first-round draft pick and forward Carl Berglund.
The trade, widely reported earlier Thursday, became official more than an hour after the Sharks’ game against the Colorado Avalanche. Without Walman and others, the Sharks lost 7-3 in the final game of a seven-game road trip.
The conditions on the 2026 first-round draft selection are as follows: The selection is Top 12 protected; if the selection is in the Top 12, Edmonton may choose to transfer their 2027 first-round selection to San Jose instead.
Should Edmonton choose to trade their 2027 first-round selection prior to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, their 2026 first-round selection will transfer to San Jose, unconditionally.
Berglund, 25, is in his third full season in the minor leagues. So far this season, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound Swedish-born center has 12 points in 45 games.
Walman, 29, was with the Sharks in Denver earlier Thursday, taking part in the team’s morning skate at Ball Arena hours before its game against the Avalanche. Walman, though, was reportedly informed of the trade shortly before the game.
Both Walman and Luke Kunin were held out of the Sharks’ lineup against the Avalanche. Kunin, a pending unrestricted free agent, could be on the move before the NHL trade deadline on Friday at noon (PST).
Considering Walman’s value, Thursday’s move was perhaps the Sharks’ most surprising of this NHL trade deadline season, at least so far.
Walman, acquired by the Sharks last June, was San Jose’s top offensive defenseman with 32 points in 50 games this season. As a member of the Sharks’ top defense pair, Walman, who played in all situations, also led the team’s skaters with an average of 23:11 in ice time per game.
Walman, along with a 2024 second round draft pick, was acquired by the Sharks from Detroit last June for future considerations in a move largely seen as a salary dump by the Red Wings. Walman is in the second year of a three-year, $10.2 million contract he signed with Detroit in Feb. 2023.
Before Thursday night’s game, the Sharks had already traded goalie Vitek Vanecek and center Nico Sturm to the Florida Panthers in separate deals. In February, San Jose sent forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars, and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche in December.
Mario Ferraro, another defenseman signed through next season, has also been the subject of trade rumors.
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“Just play. I haven’t really done anything specifically to tune it out,” Ferraro told reporters Thursday morning when asked about trade rumors. “My job is here, that’s where it lies. We’ve got another game tonight, so just focus on that.”
Please check back for updates to this developing story.
