Why Shakir Mukhamadullin is a worthwhile low risk gamble for the Edmonton Oilers

Is Shakir Mukhamadullin the hidden gem the Edmonton Oilers needed? In today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down the massive trade that allowed the Edmonton Oilers to successfully dump Darnell Nurse’s contract, receiving former first-round pick Shakir Mukhamadullin in return. Mukhamadullin is way more than just a "throw-in" piece. At 6’4” and 200 lbs, this 24-year-old defenseman has a fascinating developmental pedigree that got derailed by pandemic-era quirks and a logjammed New Jersey Devils system. We trace his winding road from the 2020 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks, and look closely at why he never got a true runway to break out in California. We dive deep into the advanced analytics, underlying numbers, and transition data to paint an honest picture of his style of play. From possessing the highest rate of clears on the Sharks last year to his low-risk, "safe" puck-handling archetype, we evaluate exactly how he profiles. Plus, where does Mukhamadullin fit into Mike Babcock’s defensive hierarchy? Can he morph into a highly effective third-pair shutdown specialist—similar to the role Nikita Zadorov played for Calgary? Finally, we project the Oilers' defensive depth chart ahead of opening night, discuss Stan Bowman's offseason roster moves, and explore what year-two jumps from Ike Howard and Matthew Savoie mean for Edmonton’s ceiling. 07:08 Mukhamadullin 's NHL minute breakdown 11:14 Evaluating NHL draft prospects 17:32 Evaluating Mukhamadullin's potential role 20:49 Discussing defensive pairings and strategies 22:32 Defenseman's uncertain NHL future 27:02 Oilers offseason changes and new coach Why Shakir Mukhamadullin is a worthwhile low risk gamble for the Edmonton Oilers Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcastright now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.