Steve Yzerman botched Jake Walman trade.

Many fans of the Detroit Red Wings were left stunned this summer when it was announced that the team would be shipping out popular defenseman Jake Walman out in a trade. That shock quickly turned to horror however when fans realized that not only had the Red Wings shipped out Walman, but that they had also packaged a second round pick with him in the deal while receiving absolutely nothing (future considerations) in return.

That was frustrating enough as a Red Wings fan, but recent comments from a National Hockey League insider are likely to send those same fans into a furor. Recently, NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed that he does not believe Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman did his due diligence on this deal.

"I can tell you that teams just make deals sometimes, without consulting everyone else," said Seravalli. 

He would get even more specific, citing the Red Wings recent trade deal as an example of what he was referencing.

"The Jake Walman trade," said Seravalli. "There were teams that were in position to take on a bad contract that were shocked that a second round pick got attached to the Jake Walman deal. Sometimes our assumptions are incorrect that the entire league has been canvassed."

Walman was an important part of the Red Wings' blue line during his tenure with the team, spending the better part three seasons as a member of their roster. Last season Walman played in 63 games for the Red Wings, scoring 12 goals and adding 9 assists for a total of 21 points over that stretch, finishing his season with a plus minus rating of -2.

Walman still has two years remaining on a three-year deal he signed with the Red Wings back in February of 2023, which carries an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million per season. 

Future considerations did not suit up for an NHL game last season.