Shakir Mukhamadullin

February 2023 – Mukhamadullin has been acquired by the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster deal for Timo Meier, which saw him sent to the New Jersey Devils. The 21-year-old Russian defenseman has had a solid year in the KHL with 25 points in 67 games played with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Curtis Rines

March 2022 – Mukhamadullin has been playing top minutes for Salavat Yulaev in the KHL this season again, but his production has stagnated. His three goals and four assists in 34 games, when compared with his 10 points in 39 games last year, don’t really scream “progression curve”. Especially when facing larger forwards, he continues to struggle in terms of separating the puck from its carrier, and his strength has very slightly improved but remains a setback. If he can come to the AHL in the next year or two, it’ll help him adjust his processing to the North American game.  Hadi Kalakeche

October 2021 – Mukhamadullin has been continuing his development in the KHL with Salavat Yulayev and is off to a great start, with two goals and two assists in 12 games played on the team’s first pair. He’s been designated as the team’s power-play quarterback and utilizes his booming one-timer and great one-touch distribution in that role to put the puck in dangerous areas. If he can remain on the KHL team’s top pair and continue playing 20+ minute games overseas, he shouldn’t come anywhere near North America unless he can be guaranteed the same role and opportunities. Hadi Kalakeche

April 2021 – Shakir Mukhamadullin has spent the entire season in the KHL, in a more and more limited role as Ufa gradually sorted out their lineup along with the rest of the league. His 10 points in 39 games are far from outlandish but still show a decent ability to get involved offensively, especially in a men’s league. If he can build on this, dominate at next year’s World Junior tournament and arrive in North America with confidence, Mukhamadullin could become the first-round prospect the Devils think he is. Hadi Kalakeche

January 2021 – Mukhamadullin was hit-and-miss at the World Junior tournament, as Russia finished off the podium, losing to Finland in the bronze medal game. He benefited from ample playing time, testing his strengths on the first pair, the powerplay, and the penalty kill. It was obvious how raw Mukhamadullin is compared to his age group, and he will have a chance to show how fast he can grow in next year’s tournament, for which he will be eligible as a returnee. Hadi Kalakeche

December 2020 – Mukhamadullin has been invited to the 2021 World Juniors selection camp and is a shoo-in to make the cut. He will likely share the top pair with Daniil Chayka and Yan Kuznetsov and will try to show that he is the best Russian defensive prospect of his age group. Hadi Kalakeche

October 2020 – The Devils clearly loved what they saw from Mukhamadullin and decided to take him with the 20th overall pick, instead of trading down and risking him going to another team. Mukhamadullin’s size, reach and mobility allow him to pinch on both blue lines, snuffing out opposing breakouts and zone entries with comfort and intelligence. His stick positioning in the defensive zone is astute, but his physical play requires some improvement – he tends to bounce off players when initiating body checks, and rarely gets the player off the puck that way. His toolbox is quite extensive, as he can skate, pass, stickhandle or shoot his way out of trouble with ease. He has already proven his worth against men, with six points in fourteen games in the KHL with Ufa so far as he managed the impossible task of earning quality ice-time in the KHL as a teenager. Work needs to be put into his decision-making, but the same could be said of almost every defensive prospect available in this draft. He should develop into a fourth of fifth defenseman, although there is a slight chance he ends up on a top pair long-term. Hadi Kalakeche