When the shoe fits – wear it.
And now, he’s heading towards his first Stanley Cup Final appearance.
Walman’s puck-moving skills, physicality, and dedication to putting everything on the line to win have made him a match made in hockey heaven for the Oilers.
Walman is excellent at breakout passes. This has served the Oilers well because he can dish the puck to the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and others. Oilers fans caught a glimpse of this in his first game with the Oilers, where he made two incredible stretch passes.
One connected with Zach Hyman, who then scored. The other lead to a great scoring opportunity. This trend has continued during the playoffs.
Walman has been throwing hits and clearing the net after whistles like his life depended on it. In 16 games, he’s recorded 24 hits.
However, it’s his ability to clear the net that’s been very evident. Walman has not been afraid to muck it up after whistles, ensuring that no opposing player is taking liberties with his new teammates.
The Oilers are different this year, and Walman has joined that group, eager to win himself.
So eager, that he is putting his body on the line every single night. Walman has blocked 43 shots during the playoffs. He’s ranked first on the Oilers in this stat and second in the NHL, behind the Dallas Stars defender Esa Lindell (44 blocks).
Effective breakout passes, clearing the net on the defensive side of the puck, and sacrificing his body have made Walman the ideal addition for the Oilers during this playoff run.
With the Stanley Cup Final beginning on Wednesday, June 4th, look for more of the same from Walman in the days and weeks to come.
This shoe appears taylor made for the Oilers.
