SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks on Thursday recalled Shakir Mukhamadullin from their AHL affiliate, opening the door for the team’s top defensive prospect to make his NHL debut this weekend.
Mukhamadullin, 22, has played in 39 games for the Barracuda this season and has 26 points (five goals, 21 assists). Among AHL defensemen, he ranked tied for sixth in assists and 10th in points.
In his AHL career, he has appeared in 51 regular season games, all with the Barracuda, scoring 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) and 24 penalty minutes, along with three postseason games with the Utica Comets.
The Sharks’ next game is Saturday at home against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sharks acquired Mukhamadulin as part of their trade with New Jersey on Feb. 26, 2023, that sent winger Timo Meier to the Devils. In the deal, San Jose also received forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk, who have become mainstays in the Sharks’ lineup.
The Sharks also received the Devils’ 2023 first-round pick, which became center Quentin Musty, and a conditional 2024 second-round selection that will become a first-rounder if New Jersey makes the playoffs and reaches Eastern Conference finals this season.
Those are all key pieces to have as general manager Mije Grier and the Sharks try to lay the foundation for the next generation of Sharks hockey.
Mukhamadullin, though, was considered the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal, and he has gained valuable experience in North American professional hockey with the Barracuda over the last four months.
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