Sharks Locker Room: The Importance of Mukhamadullin

MONTREAL — Macklin Celebrini is a Calder Trophy front-runner. Will Smith has been humming recently, with three goals and 12 points in his last 15 games. But what about the future of the San Jose Sharks’ defense?

Celebrini and Smith, of course, are forwards, true foundational pieces for the franchise’s future.

So it’s nice to see someone else, in this case Shakir Mukhamadullin, step up in the Sharks’ 4-3 OT loss at the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Fabian Zetterlund, Nico Sturm, and Smith scored.

“The last two, probably his two best games of the year,” Warsofsky said of Mukhamadullin’s performance against the Habs and at the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.

Between Mukhamadullin and San Jose Barracuda offensive wizard Luca Cagnoni, and London Knights star Sam Dickinson, those are probably San Jose’s top defensive prospects right now.

If we’re being honest, it’s not the deepest group of defensive prospects in the NHL, not as clearly promising as Celebrini and Smith up front or Yaroslav Askarov in goal.

Also 2024 No. 11 pick Dickinson and 2023 fourth-rounder Cagnoni may not be that close to making a real NHL impact, which makes 23-year-old Mukhamadullin, a New Jersey Devils’ 2020 first-round pick, especially important to the Sharks’ immediate future.

Of all San Jose’s blueline prospects, Mukhamadullin has probably the best chance of making a significant, potential top-four NHL impact either this season or next year.

But that hasn’t happened this season for Mukhamadullin, who’s been beset with injuries and inconsistent play after an AHL All-Star campaign last year. This season was supposed to be his time to take off.

Keep in mind, of course, it’s generally more challenging to learn to be an NHL-caliber defenseman than forward.

But Mukhamadullin has two months left to change the narrative of this disappointing season…and he’s doing it.

It starts defensively.

“Playing a little quicker, with more urgency,” Warsofsky said. “Doing a good job of using his size and his strength, something we’ve talked to him about, [killing plays].”

While the 6-foot-4 defenseman doesn’t always play like it, he’s a load, a standout combination of size and mobility.

Mukhamadullin’s anticipation and ability come together, as Mukhamadullin (85) reads the Brendan Gallagher (11) pass back to Christian Dvorak (28) along the boards. Dvorak, nowhere to go, coughs it up, Luke Kunin (11) scoops it up to Ty Dellandrea (53), who chips it out to a slashing Barclay Goodrow (23). It’s textbook defense and exit.

It feels like the San Jose Sharks are hoping that Mukhamadullin can nail down the defensive end of things first, before letting him a little more loose on offense.

“I’m not sure that I played really well in the offensive zone. But now, I’m trying to think about my D-zone,” Mukhamadullin said.

If the Russian blueliner can become a solid defender, there’s plenty of offensive potential too. Mukhamadullin’s MO is more polish with the puck than without, and while he may never be dominant on either end of the ice, he’s got all the attributes that you need to be a solid top-four two-way blueliner for a long time.

Mukhamadullin also managed a nifty assist on Thursday, a clear off the glass that had just enough touch to spring Smith and Fabian Zetterlund for a clear-cut 2-on-1.

“There’s another level that he’s got to get to,” Warsofsky said. “Definitely a step in the right direction, these last two [games].”

Can Mukhamadullin close his campaign by establishing himself as a bona fide NHL defenseman, then build on that next year?

The San Jose Sharks’ immediate future will look a lot brighter if he can.

Will Smith

Smith, on performing like this in front of Habs GM Kent Hughes, his former youth coach: "I take our relationship pretty serious. He helped me a lot in my hockey career. Obviously, that's pretty special for me. But besides that, we still lost."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 28, 2025

Thanks to @Sheng_Peng for asking Smith about the stick change for me: #SJSharks
"I am always into that stuff. I'm a bit of a stick geek. I like using the new stuff, so I thought I'd try it out."

"It didn't do too much, to be honest; it's just a stick."

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) February 28, 2025

Nico Sturm

Sturm, on frustration from another close loss: "We've had 25 of those games this year where, they're decided by 1 goal or an empty netter. When you do the math on 25 games, you win half, maybe grab another few points in overtime here, you're in a whole different world in the…

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 28, 2025

Sturm, on the common denominator in most, if not all of these close San Jose Sharks’ losses:

We need to score in the third period. There’s one common denominator that I would point out, we need to score goals in the third period.

Shakir Mukhamadullin

Mukhamadullin, on how active that he was offensively and defensively tonight:

I’m not sure that I played really well in the offensive zone. But now, I’m trying to think about my D-zone.

(Had equipment issues, apologize for the especially poor audio here)

Ryan Warsofsky

Warsofsky, on the blueline turnover that led to Nick Suzuki’s first goal:

That was the No. 1 key. We can’t do that. We go do it. This can’t happen. We know that. We’ve talked about it at length. All three goals were really preventable.

Warsofsky, on the breakdown that led to Alex Newhook’s game-tying third period goal:

Have the puck on our stick, not ready to make a play with it, then get kept caught by surprise on the backside, so just not enough awareness around our net.

Smith is among the rookie leaders in points since 1/14. Has 3 goals and 12 points in 15 games.

"I think the game's slowed down for him. That's the biggest thing," Warsofsky said.

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 28, 2025

Warsofsky, on Mukhamadullin’s game:

The last two, probably his two best games of the year. Still has some things to work on. But he’s getting more comfortable. Playing a little quicker, with more urgency. There’s another level that he’s got to get to. Definitely a step in the right direction, these last two.

Doing a good job of using his size and his strength, something we’ve talked to him about, [killing plays].

Warsofsky had no update on Thrun, but says that the injury happened during tonight's game.

Thrun left the game twice.#SJSharks don't practice tomorrow in Ottawa, so we might have to wait until Saturday's game to find out more about Thrun's status

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 28, 2025