Breaking down SJ’s roster, position by position
Mukhamadullin is pushing for a spot
Henry Thrun earned high marks from coach David Quinn for the way he played in the Sharks’ first preseason game over the weekend. Then, after the Sharks’ second exhibition game, it was fellow defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin’s turn to receive some praise.
Playing in a teal uniform at SAP Center for the first time, the Russian-born Mukhamadullin was second among all Sharks skaters with 20:30 in ice time in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Mukhamadullin, 22, showed off his skating prowess, looked poised and decisive against an aggressive Ducks forecheck, assisted on a power play goal, and also defended hard in front of his own net.
“He certainly has impressed me,” Quinn said of the 6-foot-4 Mukhamadullin, who was a major part of last season’s trade that saw Timo Meier go to New Jersey. “Really encouraged about what I’ve seen in training camp and certainly very excited about what his future holds.”
Realistically, though, that future likely doesn’t include being on the Sharks’ 23-man roster for the start of the regular season. The Sharks already have 10 defensemen who require waivers and will have to expose at least
two of them. Mukhamadullin, who is waivers exempt, could probably use some more time in the AHL to get better used to the North American style of play.
Certainly, Quinn wasn’t handing out an NHL job to Mukhamadullin just yet.
“We want to give him every opportunity to continue to get better,” Quinn said, “and see what he’s capable of doing.”
Here’s what the training camp competition looks like, upfront and on defense, two weeks before NHL teams must get down to a league-mandated 23man roster.
Forwards (28)
Locks: Alexander Barabanov, Logan Couture, Anthony Duclair, Michael Granlund, Tomas Hertl, Mike Hoffman, Luke Kunin, Kevin Labanc, Oskar Lindblom, Nico Sturm, Filip Zadina, Fabian Zetterlund.
In the mix: Thomas Bordeleau, Ryan Carpenter, William Eklund, Jacob Peterson, Givani Smith.
Longshots: Ethan Cardwell, Brandon Coe, Danil Gushchin, Kasper Halttunen, Quentin Musty, Adam Raska, Tristen Robins, Mitchell Russell, Scott Sabourin, Nathan Todd, Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Analysis: Couture is still not skating and might have to start the season on injured reserve. If that happens, a precious roster spot will open up, presumably for another center. In that case, Bordeleau and Carpenter figure to be first in line for that opening and right now, it appears Bordeleau has the edge as he’s spent time in camp so far on a line with Duclair and Barabanov. Carpenter may not be as flashy as Bordeleau, but he’s a seasoned veteran who has plenty of NHL experience as a fourthline center.
The 12 players who are listed as locks are all on one-way contracts and not
waivers exempt. It would be a surprise to see any of them moved, at least not before the start of the season. Asked specifically Tuesday about Lindblom perhaps needing to have a strong camp to stay in the NHL, Quinn said, “I think there’s a lot of guys in that scenario. We’ve got a bunch of guys that are fighting for 13 or 14 spots up front and everybody can do the math. So I would put six or seven guys in that category.”
If there are only 13 forward spots available, is there a decision to be made between keeping Peterson and Smith? Neither is waivers exempt. Peterson can play in the top six if need be and had eight points in 11 games for the Sharks last season after he was acquired from Dallas. Smith, who had six fights last season, offers an element that is not necessarily in abundance up front.
Unless Eklund, who is waivers-exempt, has a phenomenal camp, he’ll likely start the season in the AHL. There are just too many bodies for too few spots. But, that can change quickly, and just because Eklund starts with the Barracuda, doesn’t mean he’ll be there for long.
Defensemen (16)
Locks: Matt Benning, Kyle Burroughs, Mario Ferraro, Nikolai Knyzhov, Jam
Rutta, Radim Simek, MarcEdouard Vlasic
In the mix: Jacob MacDonald, Leon Gawanke, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, Henry Thrun
Longshots: Nick Cicek, Artem Guryev, Gannon Laroque, Valtteri Pulli
Analysis: Like the forward group, it would be a major surprise if anyone in the ‘locks’ category wasn’t on the team for the Oct. 12 season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights. But that doesn’t mean the defense corps will stay the same for long.
Thrun is knocking on the door for a full-time NHL job and had a three-point night in the Sharks’ first preseason game. But because he remains waivers-exempt, and the Sharks have 10 defensemen who are not, chances are he’ll start the season in the AHL.
The Sharks likely do not want to lose Okhotiuk, 22, to a waiver claim after he also came over in the Meier deal, so it stands to reason that MacDonald and Gawanke will be the ones on waivers. They’re the ones, it seems, least likely to be claimed by another team.
Goalies (5)
Locks: Mackenzie Blackwood, Kaapo Kahkonen
Longshots: Magnus Chrona, Eetu Makiniemi, Georgi Romanov
Analysis: There isn’t much of a competition here. Barring an injury, Blackwood and Kahkonen will start the season as the Sharks’ goalie tandem, and if he’s healthy, Makiniemi will be the No. 1 goalie for the Barracuda.