- Mike Babcock scratched Jake Walman for the Oilers’ game against the Flames
- Walman has one assist and a minus-7 rating in nine games on a $7 million cap hit
- Read below for what Babcock said and how the blue line shakes out
Jake Walman is a healthy scratch for the Oilers tonight.
Head coach Mike Babcock pulled the $7 million defenseman out of the lineup for Edmonton’s first Battle of Alberta game of the season against the Flames. Babcock was asked about the decision and gave a blunt answer about what he wants from his D-men.
“You earn your opportunity, and you earn it through competitiveness and detail,” Babcock said. “If you’re a D-man, there can’t be chances against, and the puck can’t go in your net.”
Babcock explained that he has been watching the same mistakes pile up on video. “I see those clips over and over and over again, and so if you’re in the wrong clips, pretty soon you’re in the wrong spot,” he said.
The numbers explain the frustration. Walman, 30, has no goals, one assist and a minus-7 rating through nine games, averaging just under 15 minutes a night. He is in the first season of a seven-year, $49 million contract, and his $7 million cap hit is the fourth-highest on the roster behind Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard.
Mattias Ekholm is back from the concussion that sidelined him for two games, and he goes back next to Bouchard on the top pair. Ryan Shea and Connor Murphy form the second pair, with Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ty Emberson on the third.
Edmonton is also short up front after Zach Hyman went on injured reserve with a neck injury. Jason Dickinson returns after missing six games.
Check out Babcock talking about the Flames matchup earlier in the day:
Puck drop is 8:30 p.m. ET in a streaming-only game, and McDavid can set an NHL record for the longest season-opening assist streak. Walman will watch it from the press box.
