Oilers expected to bench stunning player as insider Bob Stauffer hints at another change

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to change up their blue line tonight against the Seattle Kraken, and Shakir Mukhamadullin looks like the odd man out.

Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer expects Ty Emberson to slide in on the third pairing next to Jake Walman, and he made it clear the Walman and Mukhamadullin duo is finished for now.

The early results explain the move.

Mukhamadullin is a minus-6 through his first two games, and Stauffer pointed out how hard it is for a left shot to play the right side.

He also said the 24-year-old has looked short on strength near the net.

The pairing makes sense on paper.

Walman and Emberson worked well together against Anaheim in last season's playoffs, and Edmonton Journal columnist David Staples noted that Emberson's game improved through the year.

Walman was the club's top defenceman in that Anaheim series and its second best behind Evan Bouchard during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final run.

It has been a feast or famine blue line so far.

Staples sees Bouchard playing at an MVP level, with Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Shea also strong, while Walman, Mukhamadullin and Connor Murphy have struggled.

He expects Walman and Murphy to settle in, and he pointed out Murphy is adjusting to the faster, more aggressive system Mike Babcock brought in compared with Kris Knoblauch's zone system.

Stauffer also hinted that Devon Levi could get another start in goal, even after allowing seven goals in Thursday's 9-7 win over Vancouver.

Staples noted Levi gave up those seven on only 12 Grade A chances and kept leaving big rebounds in the slot.

He had wondered about a return for Tristan Jarry, but figured giving Levi a home start might save Jarry for a calmer road game.

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