Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Shakir Mukhamadullin – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers ⁣

With the NHL preseason beginning in one week, let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. Yesterday we looked at Josh Samanaki, and now we turn our attention to a new defensive acquisition.

The Oilers acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin from the San Jose Sharks in a deal that sent long-time Oiler Darnell Nurse the other way. General manager Stan Bowman got out of a terrible contract and added a younger defenceman who can compete for a roster spot.

Mukhamadullin was a restricted free agent (RFA), but he inked a two-year deal with a $1.75 million cap hit with Edmonton. He scored five goals and registered 12 points in 50 games last season, averaging 17:09 per game. He has recorded seven goals and 22 points in 83 career games. Offence isn’t his priority. He was brought in to compete for a top-six spot and add depth to the blue line. Let’s preview his 2026-27 season.

Mukhamadullin Is Battling For a Spot

Mukhamadullin’s roster spot isn’t guaranteed. He’s likely competing for the sixth or seventh defenceman spot with Ty Emberson and Spencer Stastney. The left side of the blue line is crowded, with Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, and Ryan Shea locked in the top six. Luckily for Mukhamadullin, he’s a left shot who can play on both sides. That versatility is extremely valuable and could give him the upper hand over Stastney for that final spot.

Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, and Emberson shoot right. So the only way Mukhamadullin can sneak into the top six is if he outplays Emberson and flips over to play the right side.

Best Case Scenario

The best-case scenario is that he outplays Emberson and gets consistent top-six minutes. However, it’s more likely that he platoons and becomes a solid seventh defenceman who can step in and fill a role when called upon. Injuries happen. Ekholm is getting older, and Walman battled injuries last season, so the Russian blueliner should get playing time. He adds more depth that the Oilers have lacked for years.

If he can play over 50 games and register seven goals and 17 points, that would be a solid offensive season. He was a minus-3 with the Sharks, which wasn’t bad considering their position in the standings. Edmonton should be a better team, so he should be a plus player. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he’s a mobile defenceman for his size and has a powerful shot. Therefore, he has offensive upside, and hopefully the Oilers can unlock it.

However, for a big guy, he’s not physical. He registered just 35 hits last season and a measly 2.45 hits per 60 minutes. He ranked 19th on the Sharks in hits and had 18 fewer hits than superstar Macklin Celebrini. He has a long reach, so he’s effective at breaking up plays, but he doesn’t use his size nearly enough. He must add more physicality to his game and make it harder to play against. 70 hits should be within reason.

Worst Case Scenario

The absolute worst-case scenario is that he loses the training camp battle to both Emberson and Stastney. Since the Oilers will likely keep seven defencemen, one will get placed on waivers. If that player is Mukhamadullin, that’s a failure. Since he’s only 24, he should get claimed. Teams are always looking for young depth defencemen.

The second worst-case scenario is that he makes the team as the seventh defenceman, but doesn’t get playing time. It’s not ideal if he sits in the press box for weeks between starts. It’s a long NHL season with 84 games. So, everybody should play to keep them fresh and healthy for a playoff push. There should be a rotation, and head coach Mike Babcock shouldn’t be afraid to healthy-scratch a veteran. It’s not the worst thing if Ekholm or Walman sit in the press box every once in a while to preserve their bodies and limit wear and tear.

Therefore, if Mukhamadullin plays fewer than 35 games and registers fewer than two goals and eight points, that’s disappointing. He was healthy-scratched often in San Jose, so hopefully that’s not the case in Edmonton.

Where does Mukhamadullin fit into this defence group? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player preview series.