Welcome to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

The last defender on our list is one of the newest additions, Shakir Mukhamadullin.

#2: Shakir Mukhamadullin

Age: 24

Position: D

Shoots: Left

Nationality: Russia

Date of Birth: Jan. 10, 2002

Drafted: First round, 20th overall, 2020 (New Jersey Devils)

Height and weight: 6-4 / 201 lbs.

2025-26 stats (NHL):

Contract status: Year one of a two-year contract, $1,750,000 cap hit

The left-shot defenceman was acquired in the trade that sent longtime Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks. Mukhamadullin is originally a New Jersey Devils first-round selection in 2020, but was shipped over to San Jose in the Timo Meier trade. During his draft year, the Russian defenceman was playing in Russia with the Salavat Yulaev Ufa program. Mukhamadullin played 13 games in the MHL (Russia’s second division), but played in 27 games with the KHL squad. Mukhamadullin played two more years in the Salavat Yulaev Ufa program before coming over to North America.

During the 2021-22 season, Mukhamadullin got into three playoff games with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, before being traded during the off-season. In 2022-23, the six-foot-four defender played in 67 KHL games and 12 AHL games; 2023-24 was the first season that Mukhamadullin played completely in North America. The 201-pound defender put up a great first full AHL season with seven goals and 27 assists in 55 games played; Mukhamadullin even got in three NHL games with the Sharks. The following season, the former first-rounder played in only 21 AHL games compared to 30 NHL games.

The 2025-26 season was Mukhamadullin’s breakout campaign, as he only played with the Sharks’ big club. The former San Jose prospect played in 50 games, scoring five goals and totalling 12 points. Toward the end of the season, Mukhamadullin played about 18 to 20 minutes per night and took on some penalty-killing duties. In my viewings, the 24-year-old defender played most of his minutes alongside Mario Ferraro. Sometimes the Russian prospect would play with youngster Sam Dickinson; in these scenarios, Mukhamadullin would play his off-side. To make the Oilers’ opening-night roster, he will have to be okay with playing the right side.

One of the first........

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