Newly-acquired Oiler Shakir Mukhamadullin reveals what led to his fallout with the Sharks
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Shakir Mukhamadullin details the frustration and injury dispute that ended his run with the Sharks before he landed in Edmonton.
Shakir Mukhamadullin is settling into life as an Edmonton Oiler, and he's finally explaining what actually drove the wedge between him and the San Jose Sharks.
The 24 year old defenceman, acquired alongside prospect Zack Sharp when Edmonton sent Darnell Nurse west on July 1, says the breakup wasn't sudden.
It had been building for a while.
According to Mukhamadullin, San Jose actually tried to keep him around, tabling two separate contract offers before the trade went down.
Both fell through, and neither side could find common ground.
"There was some misunderstanding with the coaching staff. I won't spell it out clearly, but there were some disagreements. Add injuries to that. There was also one thing nobody knows about, a situation involving the injured list. I don't really want to talk about it now either, but it wasn't a great look. Everything piled up, and that's how the season turned out.”
- Shakir Mukhamadullin
- Shakir Mukhamadullin
The breaking point in San Jose
The real strain, he explained, traced back to how the Sharks handled him during an injury situation last season.
That stretch left him frustrated enough to speak candidly at the time about his ice time and his standing with the club, and he admits that moment marked the point where he sensed his future in San Jose was in doubt.
Over 50 games last season he posted 5 goals and 7 assists, establishing himself as a legitimate NHL option before the split.
A fresh start with plenty to prove
Edmonton wasted little time locking him up, signing Mukhamadullin to a two year deal worth $3.5 million, carrying a $1.75 million annual cap hit.
But a contract doesn't guarantee a lineup spot.
The Oilers head into camp with a crowded blue line, and Mukhamadullin knows he'll have to earn every shift under Mike Babcock.
At 6 foot 4 with mobility and reach, he brings real upside, and by his own admission, he's not chasing easy minutes.
He's ready to fight for them.
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