Red Wings, Walman avoid arbitration with 1-year deal

The Detroit Red Wings and defenseman Jake Walman avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, one-way, $1.05-million contract, the team announced Thursday.

Walman was a restricted free agent who had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday. He was the NHL's last remaining case this offseason.

In the arbitration proceedings, the Red Wings reportedly filed to give him a two-way pact for $775,000 at the NHL level and $225,000 in the AHL, and Walman countered with a one-way agreement at $1.7 million. However, teams and players can negotiate contracts outside the arbitration process.

The 26-year-old will miss the start of the upcoming campaign after having shoulder surgery.

Walman collected only four assists in 19 games with Detroit this past season after the St. Louis Blues traded him in March. However, Walman's average ice time significantly increased after the swap, rising from 11:59 over 32 contests with the Blues to a career-high 17:28 with the Red Wings.

The Toronto-born blue-liner was limited to 51 games split between the two clubs in 2021-22. Walman made his NHL debut with St. Louis in 2019-20 and suited up for 24 games in 2021. The Blues drafted him 82nd overall in 2014.