The San Jose Sharks continued the fire sale on Thursday night/Friday morning, selling off a player with term. The Sharks sent defenseman Jake Walman to the Edmonton Oilers because the return was simply too good to resist. The Sharks received a conditional 2026 first-round pick and forward Carl Berglund for Walman.
Walman played 50 games for the Sharks this season, registering 32 points (6 G, 26 A). He played point on the first power play unit and led the Sharks defensemen in shots with 125. This was a career season for the 29-year-old defenseman in both assists, points and TOI (23:11).
While Walman’s time with the Sharks was short, he will most certainly be missed.
What did the Sharks get for trading Jake Walman?
Of course, the return was simply too good to pass up. Walman had one more season after this one on a very affordable $3.4 million per season. General Manager Mike Grier wasn’t going to trade that asset unless the return blew him away. A first-round pick in 2026 can do that.
The conditions placed on the 2026 pick are simple. It’s top 12 protected. That means if the Oilers miss the playoffs next season and end up with a pick 12 or higher in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Edmonton gets to keep its 2026 first-round pick. San Jose will get Edmonton’s 2027 first-round pick instead, unprotected.
If Edmonton, in a future deal, trades that 2027 first-round pick before the 2026 trade deadline, San Jose gets Edmonton’s 2026 first-round pick unconditionally. That means even if that first-round pick is first overall, the Sharks get it.
Of course, Edmonton is banking on the idea that it will make the playoffs in 2026 and go deep into the postseason. That would mean the Sharks receive a 2026 first-round pick in the late 20s. The Sharks are okay with that. Many prospect evaluators believe that the 2026 draft is much deeper than this year’s draft, possibly similar to the 2024 draft. Remember, the Sharks drafted Quentin Musty at 24th in 2024.
What do we know about Carl Berglund?
The Sharks also received 25-year-old Carl Berglund in return. Berglund is 6-foot-2, 207 pounds. He currently plays for the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL, which means Barracuda fans and the Barracuda coaching staff are familiar with his game. The forward has 12 points (2 G, 10 A) in 45 games this season.
He bounced back and forth between the AHL and the ECHL in the 2023-24 season, his first season after playing college hockey at UMass Lowell. This past season, he’s stuck with the Condors.
Berglund won’t move the needle much, but the Barracuda will need reinforcements as the Sharks call more players up to fill the spots left open by trades, so this will help in the short run.
Berglund is in the second year of a two-way deal that pays him $950,000. He will be a restricted free agent after this season.
