Owen Sound Platers (1991–1993) Walker joined the
Owen Sound Platers of the
OHL in the
1991–92, after spending two seasons playing with the
Kitchener Dutchmen and
Cambridge Winterhawks of the OHA Junior 'B' league from 1989 to 1991. In his first season with the Platers, Walker had seven goals and 38 points in 53 games, helping Owen Sound reach the playoffs. In five playoff games, Walker earned seven assists to lead the club in points. Walker returned to the Platers in
1992–93, as he finished third in team scoring with 23 goals and 91 points in 57 games, while earning 110 penalty minutes. In eight playoff games, Walker had a goal and six points. At the
1993 NHL entry draft, the
Vancouver Canucks selected Walker in the 5th round, 124th overall.
Vancouver Canucks (1993–1998) Walker spent the
1993–94 season with the
Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate, the
Hamilton Canucks. In 77 games with Hamilton, Walker had 10 goals and 39 points, as well as 272 PIM, helping the club reach the post-season. In four playoff games, Walker had an assist and 25 PIM. In
1994–95, Walker moved with the team to Syracuse, as the Canucks shifted their AHL affiliate and became the
Syracuse Crunch. In 74 games with the Crunch, Walker had 14 goals and 52 points to finish fourth in team scoring, while accumulating 334 PIM, as the club failed to qualify for the playoffs. Walker also made his
NHL debut with the
Vancouver Canucks during the
1994–95 season, as on April 13, 1995, Walker appeared in his first NHL game, going pointless, while earning four penalty minutes and a +1 rating in the Canucks 6–4 loss to the
Edmonton Oilers. On April 17, 1995, Walker earned his first NHL point, an assist, during the Canucks 2–2 tie with the
Dallas Stars. Overall, Walker played in 11 games with Vancouver, earning an assist and 33 PIM. Walker began the
1995–96 with Vancouver, and on October 14, 1995, he scored his first career NHL goal against
Wade Flaherty of the
San Jose Sharks in the Canucks' 7–6 victory. Overall, Walker had four goals and 12 points in 63 games with the Canucks before finishing the season with the
Syracuse Crunch. In 15 games with the Crunch, Walker had three goals and 15 points, helping the club reach the playoffs. In the post-season, Walker had nine goals and 17 points in 16 games. He was the first player to fight in the then newly opened
General Motors Place. Walker transitioned from
defence to
forward and spent the entire season in
1996–97 with the Canucks, appearing in 64 games, scoring three goals and 18 points, while earning 132 PIM, however, the club failed to reach the playoffs. In
1997–98, Walker played in 59 games with Vancouver, scoring three goals and 13 points, while setting a career high with 164 PIM. The Canucks once again failed to qualify for the post-season. On June 26, 1998, the
Nashville Predators claimed Walker in the
1998 NHL Expansion Draft.
Nashville Predators (1998–2006) Walker joined the
Nashville Predators for their first season in
1998–99, as he appeared in 71 games with the club, scoring 15 goals and 40 points to finish fifth in team scoring. Walker saw his offensive production slip during the
1999–2000 season, as in 69 games, Walker had seven goals and 28 points, which was eight goals and 12 points fewer than the previous season. He rebounded in a big way during the
2000–01 season, as Walker scored a team high 25 goals, and finished second on the Predators with 54 points in 74 games. Walker had an injury plagued season in
2001–02, playing in just 28 games, scoring four goals and nine points. On November 13, 2001, he suffered a concussion against the
Buffalo Sabres, as the injury would cause Walker to end his season early in January. Walker returned from his concussion problems in the
2002–03, playing in 60 games, scoring 15 goals and 33 points with the Predators. Walker served as the Predators interim
captain when
Greg Johnson was injured in January. Walker had a career best season in
2003–04, as in 75 games, Walker tied his career high with 25 goals, and earned 42 assists for a career high 67 points to lead the club offensively, helping Nashville reach the post-season for the first time in team history, and for the first time in Walker's career. Walker played in 589 career games before making the playoffs, which at the time was the second longest wait in NHL history.
Guy Charron retired in 1981 after 734 games, before he ever played a single playoff game. On December 27, 2003, Walker scored the first ever goal at
Jobing.com Arena in
Glendale, Arizona, scoring against
Sean Burke of the
Phoenix Coyotes in the Predators 3–1 victory. Walker appeared in his first NHL playoff game on April 7, 2004, as he was held pointless in a 3–1 loss to the
Detroit Red Wings. On April 13, 2004, Walker earned his first career playoff point, an assist, in the Predators 3–0 win over the Red Wings. Overall, Walker appeared in six playoff games, earning an assist. With the
2004–05 NHL lockout cancelling the season, Walker spent some time with the
Cambridge Hornets and
Dundas Real McCoy's of the OHA-Sr. League. Walker returned to the Predators for the
2005–06 season, however, a sports hernia suffered against the
Chicago Blackhawks on October 25, 2005, and a wrist injury against the
Dallas Stars on February 6, 2006, limited his playing time. In 33 games, Walker had five goals and 16 points, as the Predators made the playoffs for the second straight season. In five post-season games, Walker was held pointless. Walker's time with the Predators came to an end on July 18, 2006, as Nashville traded him to the
Carolina Hurricanes for
Josef Vasicek.
Carolina Hurricanes (2006–2010) Walker joined the defending
Stanley Cup champion
Carolina Hurricanes for the
2006–07 season, and in his first season with the club, Walker scored 21 goals and 51 points in a career high 81 games, however, the Hurricanes failed to qualify for the playoffs. Injuries to his torso and knee cut into Walker's playing time in
2007–08, as he scored 14 goals and 32 points in 58 games, however, the Hurricanes missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Walker had another injury plagued season in
2008–09, as a head injury and post-concussion symptoms caused him to appear in only 41 games, scoring five goals and 15 points, helping Carolina reach the playoffs. On May 14, 2009, Walker scored his first career playoff goal, the series clinching overtime goal against
Tim Thomas of the
Boston Bruins, helping Carolina reach the Eastern Conference finals. Overall, Walker appeared in 18 playoff games, scoring one goal and seven points. Walker began the
2009–10 season with the Hurricanes, however, a shoulder injury limited his playing time to only 33 games, as he scored three goals and five points. On March 3, 2010, the Hurricanes traded Walker to the
Washington Capitals for the Capitals' seventh round draft pick in the
2010 NHL entry draft.
Washington Capitals (2010) Walker finished the
2009–10 season with the
Washington Capitals, appearing in nine games, scoring two goals and three points, as the club reached the playoffs. Walker appeared in just one playoff game with Washington due to a knee injury, as he was held pointless. Walker became a free agent after the season, and officially announced his retirement as a player on December 21, 2010. Overall, Walker played in 829 career games, scoring 151 goals, 246 assists and 397 points, while accumulating 1162 penalty minutes. In 30 career playoff games, Walker had a goal and eight points, as well as 31 PIM. ==Coaching career==