Pacific Division All-Stars' Shakir Mukhamadullin (85), from the San Jose Barracuda, hands his stick to Ethan Hall, 7, from San Jose, as his dad Norman and brother Dylan, 3, watch on, after the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Skills Competition at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE – Shakir Mukhamadullin joined the Sharks for their optional skate Saturday morning, marking the first time the 6-foot-4 prospect defenseman has been on the ice with his teammates during training camp.
Mukhamadullin, 22, did not participate in the Rookie Faceoff event in El Segundo in mid-September and missed the first two weeks of training camp with a lower-body injury. However, he began skating on Monday and has been progressing in recent days without any setbacks.
It was not immediately known if Mukhamadullin would play Saturday night when the Sharks face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in their sixth and final preseason game. But considering Saturday was his first practice with the group, such a move would be unusual.
Mukhamadullin spent most of last season with the Barracuda of the AHL and had 34 points in 55 games. He was part of the AHL’s All-Star Classic in San Jose, replacing injured Barracuda teammate Danil Gushchin.
The Sharks acquired Mukhamadullin in Feb. 2023 as part of the massive trade that sent Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils. Mukhamadullin was taken 20th overall by the Devils at the 2020 NHL Draft, and with his range, fluid skating, and offensive upside, he is considered one of the Sharks’ top defensive prospects.
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Originally published at Curtis Pashelka