Oilers sign defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin to two-year contract

The Edmonton Oilers have signed newly acquired defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a two-year, $3.5 million contract, according to PuckPedia. The deal will carry an annual average value of $1.75 million.

The Oilers acquired the 24-year-old from the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday alongside prospect Zach Sharp in exchange for defenceman Darnell Nurse.

Mukhamadullin, who was a restricted free agent without a contract, will be paid $1.55 million in salary and a $200,000 signing bonus in year one of the deal, and a $1.75 million salary in the second year. The contract has no movement clauses. Upon the expiration of the contract, Mukhamadullin will be a restricted free agent one year away from unrestricted free agency.

The left-shot defenceman, who spent time on his opposite side, appeared in 50 NHL games last season, scoring five goals and 12 points. He was drafted 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 draft.

“Mukhamadullin is a big, long-range, left-shot defenseman who split his time between right and left defence,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said on Oilers NOW on Thursday. “I think he actually played a little bit more on the right this season, so that’s flexibility. He’s got a big shot, so he does have that part of the offensive side of his game. And I think he’s a defenseman who’s just getting his establishment in the NHL.

“His best years are ahead of him, clearly. It’s hard to break through sometimes on defence as a younger player. He’s just getting to that point now where he showed that he’s an NHL-calibre player, so we think there’s some growth there with his game. A lot of excitement with the flexibility for what he can bring.”

After signing Mukhamadullin, the Oilers have $6.5 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, with restricted free agents Colton Dach and Spencer Stastney still without contracts.