Prospect Info: Shakir Mukhamadullin (#20 pick - 2020 draft)

[Guadana]

I was watching his games this season. I’m not so high on him. He isn’t play well against pressure. And he is left handed. I’m absolutely sure Fitz should go out from this first round draft with d, and shakir was fifth on his list.
On the other side Shakir will play against man in very good organization for developing. He will have good challenge and situation will ask him to be better. He is high and strong good skaters or his size. So maybe we will surprised. But for me he is look like another Castrons late first rounder.

I was making 30 big reviews for our Russian devils community, who can be our pick in first round and shakir wasn’t on that list. He was the most surprising pick for me in first round.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Let me reiterate this. Shakir was playing pretty substantial minutes in the KHL at 17, he is excelling in the KHL at 18 outproducing top prospects like Alexeyev who are 3 years older. He will likely break the record for production by an U19 defensmen in the KHL and on top of that, he is 6'4 and growing. New Jersey had him ranked quite high before the pause so I can imagine other teams had him ranked extremely high after his start. He has almost matched Romanov's production last year in only 14 games. New Jersey has enough safe defensmen, Schneider or Guhle would have filled similar organizational roles as Okhotyuk, Bahl, Misyul, Vukojevic and McCarthy if they make it.

I didn't really look into Mukhamadullin to my fault but he is exactly the type of pick Wallinder is, someone I was keen on taking a homerun with at 20. The only difference is Mukhamadullin is excelling in the 2nd best league in the world while Wallinder hasn't taken strides this year.

 

[RSeen]

Let me reiterate this. Shakir was playing pretty substantial minutes in the KHL at 17, he is excelling in the KHL at 18 outproducing top prospects like Alexeyev who are 3 years older. He will likely break the record for production by an U19 defensmen in the KHL and on top of that, he is 6'4 and growing. New Jersey had him ranked quite high before the pause so I can imagine other teams had him ranked extremely high after his start. He has almost matched Romanov's production last year in only 14 games. New Jersey has enough safe defensmen, Schneider or Guhle would have filled similar organizational roles as Okhotyuk, Bahl, Misyul, Vukojevic and McCarthy if they make it.

I didn't really look into Mukhamadullin to my fault but he is exactly the type of pick Wallinder is, someone I was keen on taking a homerun with at 20. The only difference is Mukhamadullin is excelling in the 2nd best league in the world while Wallinder hasn't taken strides this year.

Didn't he average like 3 minutes per game last year? Thats what I read somewhere, not sure if accurate. Also read that he is playing 13 minutes this year.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

I love this pick. Like @Jason MacIsaac just said, he was playing in the 2nd best league in the world as a 17 year old and he’s playing a key role this year as an 18 year old, something you rarely see in the KHL. I think he’s a bigger and better version of Romanov and everyone was drooling over him last year after being named the best dman of the World Juniors.

The fact that everyone here is pissed about our pick is reassuring because I disagree with about 90% of what’s floated around here.

We got a diamond in the rough and if we can polish it properly, we’re getting a stud at #20. Having access to DAZN, I’ll be watching all of his games as of today.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Didn't he average like 3 minutes per game last year? Thats what I read somewhere, not sure if accurate. Also read that he is playing 13 minutes this year.

Check out the list of Russian defensmen playing in Russia drafted in the first round over the last 30 years. The last two are Grebeshkov and Babchuk in 2002.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Haven't seen any Fitz interviews, but has he confirmed that they at least tried to move down? If that's the case and they really liked this player, then that's fine.

I think the fact that Schneider fits the profile of defenseman we have 20 of means that I don't think he was on our radar.

 

[MadDevil]

Haven't seen any Fitz interviews, but has he confirmed that they at least tried to move down? If that's the case and they really liked this player, then that's fine.

I think the fact that Schneider fits the profile of defenseman we have 20 of means that I don't think he was on our radar.

I don't know about trading down but I believe he did say we tried to trade up.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

This video has interviews with all 4 Russian 1st round picks, including Shakir. Luckily, there is a translator for Shakir's interview. I speak Russian so I can tell you the translator didnt do a great job translating...but you will get the jist.

 

[Bologna 1]

like i said last night, i am good with this pick for sure. when you get into the latter stages of the first round (especially this year seemingly be a cluster from say late teens all the way to the 40s at least), the gap becomes so narrow that teams' lists will start to really become individually unique.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

like i said last night, i am good with this pick for sure. when you get into the latter stages of the first round (especially this year seemingly be a cluster from say late teens all the way to the 40s at least), the gap becomes so narrow that teams' lists will start to really become individually unique.

Very good point. The broadcasters mentioned this as well...that in the #20 - #40 range of this draft the talent is very similar. So it becomes a matter of preference. I believe Shakir would have gone to another team in this range for sure. He does have an intriguing skill set. He has to put it all together and playing good minutes in the KHL will help with that.

I can see him wanting to play like a forward at times since he did play forward in the past. He needs to learn that as a defenseman you dont always have anyone behind you to back you up, like you do as a forward, so sometimes a simple play is the best option.

 

[MauDevils]

Too much weight being put on his last 14 games for my liking. Seems strange that a player who never stood out much at any level breaks out in a professional league.

 

[Devils731]

 

[ghughes20]

When you have 3 1sts, you can gamble on one. This seems like a smart gamble, based solely on his play this season in the K. (granted, small sample size)

Sure, he's a project, but the motivation to put muscle on his frame will be on Salavat Yulaev as Shakim has to play against men in every game. That's not the case for junior players where size and strength isn't as important since you're playing against smaller/younger players. Let Shak become a man in Russia and come to the NHL for the 22/23 season.

I'll enjoy following his games this season with Ufa. He plays tomorrow.

 

[OmNomNom]

"I MUST BREAK YOU" vibes here.

But why did the vid cut off at the end? BOOOO!

DUDE I had the same reaction, reminded me of dolph lundgren for real

 

[OmNomNom]

Too much weight being put on his last 14 games for my liking. Seems strange that a player who never stood out much at any level breaks out in a professional league.

Bratt

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Apparently his ice time last year in the KHL was tiny, something like 3-7 minutes a game. Just that fact that he was playing in it was impressive though, and he's doing well this year. Hoping Fitz nailed this pick cause I would have went with Grans!

 

[NJDevils17]

I’m fine wit this pick after cooling down some. I don’t know if I trust our scouts but we’ve drafted pretty okay out of Russia lately (Zaitsev, Rykov, Misyul, Gritsyuk all improved their stock post draft )

Honestly, nobody has really had a good chance to see him so far this season. Maybe he improved, maybe he didn’t but the energy spent knocking the pick probably isn’t worth it for a few years.

 

[Blackjack]

I’m fine wit this pick after cooling down some. I don’t know if I trust our scouts but we’ve drafted pretty okay out of Russia lately (Zaitsev, Rykov, Misyul, Gritsyuk all improved their stock post draft )

I'm actually really curious to see if we take any Russians in the later rounds. I don't think we make the Muk pick unless Fitz really trusts his scouts there.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I really hope he keeps playing well in the KHL to vindicate Fitz. This was a very jarring pick, I was caught off guard.

Someone needs to give this kid a cheeseburger though, he needs to add weight.

 

[The Wumpus]

He's listed at 6'4 178. Just looking at him he's got a lot of room to add. He could end up as a 6'5 220 monster.

 

[OmNomNom]

He's listed at 6'4 178. Just looking at him he's got a lot of room to add. He could end up as a 6'5 220 monster.

@glenwo2

 

[Nubmer6]

Seems strange that a player who never stood out much at any level breaks out in a professional league.

Maybe not standing out is a GOOD thing for a defenseman.

 

[Forge]

I really hope he keeps playing well in the KHL to vindicate Fitz. This was a very jarring pick, I was caught off guard.

Someone needs to give this kid a cheeseburger though, he needs to add weight.

I brought it up elsewhere, but given his height, I find it funny holtz is actually heavier

 

[AfroThunder396]

I think if this exact same player was named Bob Johnson and was from Moose Knuckle, Saskatchewan there would be a lot less backlash against this pick.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I think if this exact same player was named Bob Johnson and was from Moose Knuckle, Saskatchewan there would be a lot less backlash against this pick.

Bob Johnson from Moose Knuckle would have had a first-round grade to begin with, so I suspect you're right.