Jake Walman’s behaviour in San Jose has many people asking hard questions

When defenseman Jake Walman was made a healthy scratch on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky explained his decision by simply saying: “Coach’s decision, I’ll leave it at that.” Only adding:

“I’m sure he’s frustrated. I think everyone wants to play. That message is gonna be between him and I.”

When Walman met with reporters on Tuesday, he confirmed that he wasn’t being scratched due to an injury.

On Thursday, more details came out on why Walman had missed the contest as it was announced that he would not dress for last night’s game against the Minnesota Wild. Team insider Sheng Peng gave details on the ongoing saga in San Jose, explaining how there are two different things happening with Walman:

“He did not play on 11/5 for non-hockey reasons.

Warsofsky didn’t want to divulge details, but said about the scratch: “No one is bigger than the team. We’re about the team, and getting better as an organization, our culture, our standards, is really all I can say to that.”

Walman will not play tonight because of an upper-body injury that he suffered 11/2 when Brock Boeser caught him with an awkward hit.

He has practiced, but he came in today and it’s worsened. Warsofsky said he would’ve been a game-time decision on 11/5 anyway.

Walman is day-to-day with an upper-body injury”

Walman ranks second on the Sharks in average time on ice and has put up nine points in 13 games. He’s been great on the ice, but if his attitude is a problem that could convince the club to pass on him despite his talent.

The blue liner was traded to San Jose by the Detroit Red Wings this summer, along with a second-round pick, in exchange for future considerations. This news on what’s happening with him and whatever he did to get in the doghouse is having people wonder if something similar happened in Detroit, prompting the Wings to move him.

Walman is under contract through next season at a $3.4-million cap hit, making him the Sharks’ highest-paid active defenseman with Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($7 million) currently on injured reserve.

The Sharks play the Devils on Sunday next in New Jersey. Will Walman be in the lineup or remain in the press box?