The main storyline on every Edmonton Oilers fan's mind is the extension for superstar and team captain, Connor McDavid. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the deal especially as the season is about to start and there is seemingly less clarity as we move along.
Recently, the club announced they had re-signed 24 year old Russian winger, Vasily Podkolzin signing him to a three-year $8.85 million contract extension. Aside from McDavid, and with Podkolzin's deal complete, there are is another major piece on the Oilers roster due for a contract extension, defenceman Jake Walman.
He was acquired by general manager Stan Bowman at the National Hockey League's 2025 trade deadline and was a big part of the Oilers blueline. He found nearly instant chemistry alongside long-time Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.
Walman contract extension rumoured to be long-term
NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently reported that the Oilers are actively working on a contract extension with Walman.
The Oilers are getting some non-McDavid business done, extending Vasily Podkolzin and now working on an extension for defenseman Jake Walman 👀
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 23, 2025
(w/ @frank_seravalli) pic.twitter.com/WfG3SinKZU
Serevalli says "I'm told that they've made progress on an extension with defenceman Jake Walman," he continued "I believe they've been centred on a long-term deal between Walman and the Oilers, we'll see what that number comes in at when it does get done."
Although Seravalli refrains from saying anything definitive, there does seem to be some certainty that the Oilers want to keep Walman and are looking to extend him imminently. This is good for a number of reasons but it especially let's GM Stan Bowman have an idea about the roster and payroll projections for next season.
Recently, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer gave his speculation on the extension rumours for Walman and Podkolzin. He claimed that Walman's deal could be a six-year contract carrying around a $6 million annual average value (AAV) and that Podkolzin could sign a three-year extension. His prediction was right about the latter, we will have to see about the former.
Looking ahead, there is a lot of uncertainty on the blueline for the Oilers with only Evan Bouchard, Ty Emberson, and Nurse under contract beyond this season according to puckpedia.com. Locking up Walman alleviates some of the worry, especially for such an important piece.
Walman was a key deadline addition for the Oilers
Walman logged over 21 minutes a night down the stretch, scoring eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 15 regular season games after being acquired by the Oilers. He was just as impressive in the playoffs, playing 20:10 per game while scoring two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 22 games.
The Nurse - Walman pairing specifically was one of the team's best generating a 61.2 percent expected goals (xG) percentage with an impressive 4.16 expected goals for (xGF) and 2.64 expected goals against (xGA) per 60 minutes (moneypuck.com).
Although in the postseason, head coach Kris Knoblauch moved off this pairing in favour of placing Walman with John Klingberg and Nurse with a carousel of Brett Kulak, Troy Stecher, and Bouchard. This was mostly due to injuries but what Walman showed was not only that he had a lot of chemistry with Nurse but in a variety of roles.
However, it is expected that the pairing will be reunited this upcoming season and could result in Walman solidifying himself as one of the best second pairing defencemen in the league and one of the Oilers key pieces moving forward.