Babcock scratching one of Edmonton Oilers' highest-paid players
Mike Babcock is making his first big statement with the Edmonton Oilers lineup.
With the Calgary Flames in town for the first Battle of Alberta of the season, the veteran head coach has opted to make a big change on the blueline. After a rough start to the season, Jake Walman will watch Wednesday night’s game from the press box as a healthy scratch.
The 30-year-old defenceman has just a single assist in three games this season.
“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… Our job is just to watch, and we play the guys that give us the best chance to win.
“It’s been coming now… 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.”
"I think it's just get ourselves ready to play & play at a high level… They're gonna be a tough out, just like every team we play. We have to be better & understand that."
Coach Babcock on the #Oilers vs. Flames matchup tonight. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/HWqmi7gE1d
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 28, 2026
Walman is among the highest-paid players on the Oilers, as he began a seven-year, $49 million contract this season. His $7 million cap hit is the fourth-most expensive on Edmonton’s roster, eclipsed only by Leon Draisaitl ($14 million), Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), and Evan Bouchard ($10 million).
The NHL season is just under a month old at this point, but Babcock hasn’t made any surprising decisions with his lineup until this point. In fact, the lineup has been pretty consistent throughout the first 12 games of the season, with the exception of players coming back from injury.
There was some hope Walman could rebound after a disappointing season last year, especially with his injury issues aside and playing on his natural side on a consistent basis. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Edmonton is expected to get Mattias Ekholm back from injury after he missed the past two games. He will take his usual spot on the first pair next to Evan Bouchard, while Ryan Shea and Connor Murphy anchor the second pair.
Shakir Mukhamadullin will round out the left side of the Oilers’ defence in place of Walman, where he is expected to play alongside Ty Emberson.
Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. MDT.