Mukhamadullin Talks Bashkir Roots, Last Chat With Rodion Amirov & More (+)

On Mar. 11, seconds after a KHL conference quarterfinal game in Vladivostok, there was nobody sadder than Shakir Mukhamadullin. His team, Salavat Yulaev, lost to the Admiral and were eliminated from the playoffs.

The cameras captured it all. The happiness of the Admiral players. The sadness of Salavat Yulayev. And the tears on the face of the 21-year-old defenseman.

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“Emotions were overflowing,” Mukhamadullin recalled to San Jose Hockey Now in Russian. “I’d been playing for Salavat Yulayev since I was a kid. That’s where I learned to skate. After that loss, I knew: If we lose, this would be the time for me to leave the team indefinitely. I knew I was moving to San Jose right after this playoffs.”

For Mukhamadullin, it was a bittersweet moment. He wanted to end his KHL season on a high note—which didn’t quite work out—but he was also excited about going to San Jose.

Mukhamadullin, who joined the San Jose Barracuda in March, is one of the most exciting San Jose Sharks prospects. This 6-foot-4 offensive defenseman could be a key player in the Sharks’ rebuild, but he’s yet to play his first NHL game and there’s not much info about him beyond dry facts and numbers.

Until now.