It was only a matter of time before an established player for the Edmonton Oilers was going to be healthy scratched by this new coaching staff. And I’m not at all surprised it’s defenceman Jake Walman.
In the off-season, I had identified Walman as one of the veteran defencemen at risk of falling off, primarily because his on-ice impacts have gradually been declining over the last few seasons. There’s the age factor at play, as well as Walman’s injury history. And under a new coaching staff that’s focused on playing more conservatively, Walman’s playing style didn’t seem to quite fit in anymore.
Walman is an offensive-minded defenceman who relies on his mobility, puck-handling and willingness to take risks to generate offensive chances. Those attributes are pretty valuable in today’s game, especially when deployed with the right personnel. But when the results aren’t showing up, the defensive shortcomings become more noticeable – and offensive-minded defencemen like Walman are now defensive liabilities.
The other factor to consider in this Walman situation is that the entire team has been abysmal at even-strength when the five-man unit (5MU) is on the bench. Due to injuries and the unwillingness to spread McDavid and Draisaitl’s offensive across more of the roster, the Oilers forward depth has been lacking and have horrible results. They only control 37 percent of the shot attempted, 34 percent of the Expected Goals. And this has translated to a goal differential of -13 (5 GF, 18 GA, 21% goal-share).
Right now, the Oilers are playing not to lose when their top players are on the bench as the rate of shots and chances generated are basically cut in half when the 5MU is on the bench. There’s an emphasis on having players play safe and be “minute-munchers”, as former general manager Ken Holland would call them. But eating minutes and actually controlling play are two very different things. And expecting Walman to not only abandon his natural playing style, but also play with limited offensive support, seems pretty counterintuitive.
If anything, the Oilers coaching staff should be looking to play to Walman’s strengths and find capable offensive drivers to play alongside him. That would mean splitting McDavid and Draisaitl more regularly, giving the team more offensive options throughout the lineup. And getting healthy players back.
Healthy scratching Walman might be a reasonable decision based on his recent performance. He’s clearly been struggling with the new style of play, and the mistakes have shown up in enough clips. But it also raises a bigger question about how the Oilers are constructing their lineup and what they’re asking certain players to do.
If the coaching staff wants a more conservative approach, that’s fine. But they’re also taking away the very things that make certain players effective. Walman has his flaws, and his declining impact shouldn’t be ignored. But the Oilers also need to figure out how to optimize their roster better and looking at different ways to get the most out of the players that they do have.
Data: Natural Stat Trick
