SAN JOSE >> Sharks defenseman Jake Walman was surprised at the way his time with Detroit ended last summer. But he harbors no ill will toward the Red Wings organization as he returns to Little Caesars Arena tonight for the first time since being traded to San Jose last June.

“It’ll be nice to be in a familiar place, and a lot of good memories will probably be flowing,” Walman said Monday before the Sharks left for Detroit ahead of tonight’s game. “I’m sure it’ll be a happy time and a lot of smiles for me, seeing guys I know.”

In perhaps the most lopsided trade of last offseason, the Sharks acquired Walman and a 2024 second-round draft pick from Detroit for future considerations as the Red Wings needed to clear cap space to get forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider under contract. Raymond signed an eight-year, $64.6 million deal, and Seider a seven-year, $59.85 million pact. Walman is in the second year of a three-year, $10.2 million contract with a $3.4 million cap hit.

Walman told local reporters in July, roughly two weeks after the trade, that he was “a little bit shocked” by the deal since his name hadn’t been bandied about in any rumors. A recent report by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli indicated that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman didn’t necessarily shop Walman around before consummating the deal with the Sharks on June 25.

It was a good thing for the Sharks. Walman leads all of the team’s skaters in average time on ice (22:49) and all defensemen with 26 points in 32 games. In the second period of Saturday’s game with the Minnesota Wild, a 3-1 Sharks loss, Walman had the secondary assist on William Eklund’s ninth goal of the season.

Walman had 43 points in 145 games with the Red Wings but never had an opportunity in Detroit like the one he’s received in San Jose.

“Good trade, right? He’s been noticeable when he’s in our lineup. And when he’s not, we miss him,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said of Walman. “He’s been important for us.”

Said Walman: “It’s a new opportunity. Can’t change what happened in the past but take the positives from it. I’m really working towards building myself as a piece here. That’s the biggest thing, building with this team.”

Walman is one of four veteran Sharks defensemen signed through next season.

“He’s grown a lot since he’s been here, as far as on and off the ice and where his game is trending,” Warsofsky said. “So he’s been a big piece to that room and having that swagger we need to play with.”

Part of that growth might be his toned-down celebrations.

Walman has five goals this season but has yet to flash the “Griddy” dance celebration in San Jose that he showed off with Detroit. He did the dance twice last season, both after scoring game-winning goals — one in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens and another against the Vancouver Canucks on an OT penalty shot.