Mike Babcock Praises Shakir Mukhamadullin After Oilers Trade
Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock has been impressed by what he has seen from newcomer Shakir Mukhamadullin, and his comments could add another layer to the debate surrounding the team’s trade involving Darnell Nurse.
Mukhamadullin delivered a strong performance Saturday night, giving himself another opportunity to compete for a spot on Edmonton’s opening roster.
Babcock clearly liked what he saw.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman appears to have moved ahead of competitors such as Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson in the battle for a roster position. While one preseason performance won’t guarantee him a place on the team, his progress has certainly caught the coaching staff’s attention.
Babcock Likes What He Sees
Babcock highlighted Mukhamadullin’s size, skating ability and puck-moving skills, but what impressed him most was the defenseman’s decision-making.
Rather than trying to make complicated plays, Mukhamadullin focused on keeping things simple and making the correct play consistently.
Babcock explained that he had watched Mukhamadullin previously and felt the defenseman sometimes tried to do too much. Against Edmonton’s preseason opponent, however, he saw a much more disciplined player.
That change is encouraging for the Oilers.
Babcock also believes a change of scenery could benefit the young defenseman.
The coach suggested that players can sometimes learn valuable lessons in one organization before getting a fresh opportunity somewhere else. For Mukhamadullin, Edmonton could represent exactly that type of reset.
And Babcock believes the Oilers could ultimately benefit significantly.
Could Bowman Have Won the Nurse Trade?
Mukhamadullin arrived in Edmonton as part of the deal that sent Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks, a trade that many observers initially viewed as difficult for the Oilers to complete because of Nurse’s contract.
Edmonton not only managed to move Nurse’s salary, but also acquired Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp in the transaction.
Now, Mukhamadullin is competing for an NHL roster spot and potentially could become an important part of Edmonton’s defense.
That has led to questions about whether general manager Stan Bowman may have gotten more value from the transaction than initially expected.
There is no indication that Babcock’s comments were intended as criticism of Nurse. His focus appeared to be on Mukhamadullin’s potential and what the young defenseman could bring to Edmonton.
Still, the financial side of the trade is difficult to ignore.
Mukhamadullin is reportedly signed to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $1.75 million, which is significantly less than Nurse’s former cap hit.
If the young defenseman develops into the player Babcock believes he can become, the Oilers could look back at the trade as an important piece of their defensive transition.
For now, Mukhamadullin still has to prove himself when the games begin to count.
But his preseason performance has given Edmonton plenty of reason to be intrigued.
