THREE THINGS: Who Is Shakir Mukhamadullin?

When Tom Fitzgerald was watching tape of players in the KHL, gearing up for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, a player jumped off the screen. It wasn't the player he had sat down to watch, but it was someone who kept catching Fitzgerald's eye.
That was defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, the player the Devils selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
"He's a bit of an unknown maybe to a lot of people, but not in the hockey world," Fitzgerald said. "This is where we had him."
So, who is Mukhamadullin? Get to know him in Three Things, presented by Wawa.

1. FROM RUSSIA

Mukhamadullin is fresh off of a tournament win with Russia at the Karjala Cup. The 19-year-old was part of the leadership group that Russia sent to the tournament in Finland, wearing an 'A' on his jersey. He averaged more than 20 minutes a night and played on the top power-play unit.

It's one of many appearances that Mukhamadullin has made for his country and another tournament victory to add to his list of accolades. His double-overtime goal for Russia at the World Junior A Challenge in 2019 clinched the championship. He's had some big moments with his national team.
With Russia, he also has a 2019 U17 World Hockey Championship gold medal and a 2019 U18 World Junior silver medal. And has appeared in more than 60 games with Russia's international teams since 2017.

2. THE YOUNG GUY

In 2019-20, his draft year, Mukhamadullin was already playing in the Kontinental Hockey League, Russia's top league. It's significant, because of the opportunities rarely given to young, developing players in the KHL, especially those in their draft year, and are 17 years old.
That's exactly what he has been doing his entire hockey career, playing in games and league above his age group. He entered the U18 level a year in advance in Russia and played with the U20's two years in advance internationally.
And when he does play against his regular age group, as he did in 2019-20 in the MHL, Russia's major-junior league, he doesn't hold back. In 18 games during the 2018-19 season, he recorded 13 points, averaging 0.72 points per game, which ranks the second-highest in MHL history for a defenseman.
Not bad.

3. SIZE, SKATING, and SHOT

That would be, size, skating, and shot. All of which have been highly touted regarding Mukhamadullin. Standing at 6'3, he uses his big frame to dominate over his opponents, knocking them off pucks, preventing them from making plays all with his booming hits. He has been called a "one-on-one eraser" by the Sporting News' Steve Kourianos, outlining his ability to end plays with just one hit.
His skating is smooth, particularly for the size of his frame.
"He's a smooth north-south skater whose feet rarely drag through his extensions or his pick-up, which is a selling point for a player his size," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote in late September, just before the 2020 draft, "But he's also a mobile east-west skater, who despite being long and lanky does an excellent job opening up his stride to go heel-to-heel."
Now, couple that with a shot? We'll take it. All three combined have allowed him to play at levels in hockey above his age and not look out of step. Even more importantly, looking like he belongs.
His cannon-like shot has been put on display on many international stages, firing in the championship-clinching goal in double overtime at the World Junior A Challenge in 2019, right through the slot from the blueline.
Tweet from @HC_WJAC: Here's your golden goal ... Shakhir Mukhamadullin with an absolute rocket off a #CANEast🇨🇦 body in the high slot to win it for 🇷🇺. #WJAC 🥇 pic.twitter.com/aOcNBcdBGx
At the World Junior A Challenge in December 2019, he had 10 points in 13 games.