The Hockey News’s Max Miller discussed tonight’s Wings-Sharks game with Sharks defenseman Jake Walman…
San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman isn’t treating tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings any differently.
“No chip on my shoulder. [I’m] just happy to be back here,” Walman said. “[I’m] happy to have a new page to kind of start, and new chapter. I’m just an ultra-competitive person, so every game is a new challenge. It’s just another game, but I’m sure there’ll be a lot more smiles on the ice tonight.”
Walman played 145 games for the Red Wings from 2021-2024. He had 21 goals and 22 assists and was a fan favorite for his competitiveness and iconic Griddy celebration.
…Although the defenseman says he’s treating the game like any other, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky understands the human nature involved.
“Just simplify your game early, [and] not try to do too much and let the game spiral out of control. But at the same time, he’s a human being. He’s not a robot,” Warsofsky said. “There’s emotion that comes with this sport. There’s emotion and feelings that go into playing your former team, living here, growing up here, whatever the it might be, you have to live through those feelings and try to mask them as best as you can, but you can’t cover up everything. So I think the biggest thing for him is keeping his game simple, getting his legs into it, [and] not trying to do too much.”
As did San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng:
“I’ve always believed that I could be that type of player and kind of grow into that type of player and person, on and off the ice,” Walman said in Detroit today, before the San Jose Sharks take on the Red Wings. “I was given an opportunity in Detroit to play, more so than the year before in St. Louis.”
With the Winged Wheel, Walman started playing about 20 minutes a night and receiving regular power play time.
In particular, Walman thanked ex-teammates David Perron and Moritz Seider for their roles in his development. Detroit signed Walman to a three-year, $10.2 million contract in 2023.
But more than anything, Walman leaned on his roots.
“Goes back to all the adversity early on in the career, just kind of building my way up, and learning to do things the right way. And that’s kind of what I can attest that to,” Walman said. “The people around me the closest, my family and best friends back home know what we’ve gone through. We’re just waiting to put it all together. Given that opportunity, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
