Shakir Mukhamadullin is a big, smooth-skating defenseman who has quickly become one of the more intriguing pieces in the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild. Originally drafted 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2020, he made his way to San Jose as part of the Timo Meier trade in 2023. Since then, he’s been one of the Sharks’ top defensive prospects and started getting NHL games under his belt.
Last season was an important step for him. He split time between the Barracuda and the Sharks, playing 30 NHL games and posting 9 points. It wasn’t just about production; it was about showing that he could handle the pace and physicality of the NHL. His season was unfortunately cut short by a shoulder injury in April, but he left a strong impression heading into this year.
Mukhamadullin isn’t a newcomer to our Top 25 Under 25. He was also seventh last season and holds steady because he continues to develop at a steady pace. Fans and the organization alike are waiting to see if this is the year he really locks down a full-time NHL role.
Position: Defense
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 23
Date of Birth: Jan. 10, 2002
Draft Year: 2020 (Drafted 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils)
Shoots: Left
2025-26 Team: San Jose Sharks
What we like
Mukhamadullin’s size immediately stands out. At 6’4” with long reach, he can close gaps and break up plays in ways smaller defenders can’t. What makes him special, though, is how well he moves for a guy his size. His skating is fluid, and he doesn’t look stiff when he has to pivot or retrieve pucks.
Offensively, there’s upside here. He can make a good first pass and isn’t afraid to jump into the play when the opportunity is there. You can see flashes of a player who could eventually take charge of a power play or at least be a steady puck-mover on the second unit.
Defensively, he has the tools to grow into a reliable two-way defenseman. His stick positioning is improving, and when he leans into his frame, he can be hard to play against in front of the net. Coaches trusted him more as the year went on, giving him tougher matchups and more minutes, which is a good sign for his trajectory.
Areas of improvement
The biggest thing Mukhamadullin needs right now is consistency. Like a lot of young defensemen, he can make a great play one shift and a costly turnover the next. Cleaning up those decision-making lapses will go a long way toward earning a permanent top-four role.
He could also stand to get stronger. He has the height, but still needs to add some muscle to really win battles along the boards and in front of the crease. NHL forwards will test him physically, and he’ll need to hold his ground to be trusted in late-game situations.
And, of course, health has to be a focus. Last season was derailed by injury, and he missed valuable development time. Staying healthy will allow him to get the reps he needs and build confidence in his game.
What’s next for Mukhamadullin?
Initially, Mukhamadullin will need to prove that he’s healthy. He’s coming out of his shoulder surgery and his recovery timeline in April had him back in time for training camp.
But being healthy enough to skate after surgery and being healthy enough to play in a game are two different things. So far, so good. Mukhamadullin was on the ice for the first day of training camp, and Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky said he’s healthy.
This season feels like a big one for Mukhamadullin. He’s on a one-year deal and is expected to be with the Sharks full-time. If he stays healthy and shows steady improvement, he could work his way into a top-four role permanently and earn a longer contract next summer.
If things don’t click right away, the Sharks might still give him some Barracuda time to keep his minutes up — but the expectation is that he’s ready for the NHL. This year should give us a pretty good idea of whether he’s part of the long-term core on the blue line.
Highlights
Mukhamadullin scored his first NHL goal last season and he gets extra credit for scoring it against the Vegas Golden Knights.
And then there’s this highlight, a little bit of what we would like to see more of from Mukhamadullin in the future.
Previous Top 25 Under 25 Posts
8. Igor Chernyshov
9. Quentin Musty
10. Luca Cagnoni
11. Collin Graf
12. Filip Bystedt
13. Joshua Ravensbergen
14. Kasper Halttunen
15. Eric Pohlkamp
16. Cam Lund
17. Ethan Cardwell
18. Haoxi Wang
19. Leo Sahlin Wallenius
20. Jack Thompson
21. Cole McKinney
22. Zack Ostapchuk
23. Mattias Havelid
24. Egor Afanasyev
25. Carson Wetsch
Honorable Mentions: Joey Muldowney, Jake Furlong, Brandon Svoboda, Nate Misskey, Gabriel Carriere
