Shakir Mukhamadullin just finished his first NHL game, and San Jose Sharks players and head coach believe he is ready for the NHL.

Shakir Mukhamadullin just finished his first NHL game, and San Jose Sharks players and head coach believe he is ready for the NHL.

Mukhamadullin's first play in the league was a massive hit on Sabres' captain Kyle Okposo. Sharks head coach David Quinn and William Eklund noticed his message to the league with that hit. 

"I liked his first shift," Quinn said of Mukhamadullin. "He stepped up, made a hit. Skated. Poise. You can see why he was a first-round draft pick."

"I think so," Eklund said when asked if Mukhamadullin belongs in the NHL. "He's doing great things out there and moving the puck well, so I think he does."

Sharks captain Logan Couture said he didn't want to compare him to some other NHL superstar defensemen but proceeded to do so anyway. 

"You joke about guys like Drew Doughty and Miro Heiskanen, and I'm not comparing them to those guys, but those guys play without a heartbeat almost," Couture said. "I guess the easy way of saying that is, you got the puck, and it looks easy. They scan the ice without much panic. I think Shakir has some of that in his game."

Mukhamadullin finished the game with 19:21 TOI and three shots on goal. He quarterbacked the second powerplay unit. 

"Obviously, there's a lot to work on and improve, and he's young. He's only going to get bigger. I don't know if he'll get taller, but he will get stronger," Couture said. He'll learn this North American game. He hasn't played too many North American-style hockey games in his life yet. Good player [and we're] happy to have him."

When it comes to what he needs to do next, Quinn has his idea of what Mukhamadullin needs to focus on. 

"I just think the pace and learning how to play NHL hockey. It's not one particular thing, but it's just getting acclimated in every area to play in the National Hockey League," Quinn said. "Find that out. [Lean] how to use his body. He's a tall kid but still thin. Learn how to use leverage and a stick and body positioning and a little bit more anticipation with the puck. For first time NHL game he did very well."

Mukahamadullin faired well against the Buffalo Sabres, and with Henry Thrun on IR, he should get a few more looks in the NHL before the team decides to keep him in the NHL.

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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