Sharks Reassign Thomas Bordeleau, Shakir Mukhamadullin

Yesterday at 02:15 PM

Sharks prospects Thomas Bordeleau and Shakir Mukhamadullin, who started the year on the injured non-roster list, have been cleared to return to play and were subsequently assigned to AHL San Jose, per a team announcement. The move opens up $323,975 in cap space, per PuckPedia.

Bordeleau is no stranger to the Barracuda. That’s where the 22-year-old has spent most of his time since turning pro out of Michigan in 2022. A second-round pick of the Sharks in 2020, he has worked his way into 43 NHL games over the past three seasons, a career-high 27 of which came last year. The center/winger has posted six goals and 12 assists for 18 points, an 11-goal, 34-point pace over 82 games. That’s decent production for a young forward in a middle-six role, especially on a rebuilding club without much support. His possession metrics last season were also exceptionally strong, logging a 5.9% relative Corsi share at even strength. He’s also been decent on the scoresheet in the AHL, posting 33 goals and 69 points in 102 appearances there.

Those numbers generated optimism that Bordeleau could crack the opening night roster this season, but instead, he sustained a lower-body injury early in training camp that knocked him out for most of the exhibition schedule. He’ll now get back up to game speed with the Barracuda before looking to challenge for a call-up in the coming weeks. The Sharks are down a forward with first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, so there should be an opportunity for Bordeleau if he earns it with his play in the AHL.

Mukhamadullin, meanwhile, was dealing with a lower-body injury dating back to rookie camp. The defenseman was a first-round pick of the Devils in 2020 and headed to San Jose in the Timo Meier trade. He made his NHL debut last season, posting an assist with a whopping 11 blocks and five hits in just three games during a brief call-up to the Sharks. He didn’t look entirely out of place while averaging north of 20 minutes per game and, like Bordeleau, should be in line to get NHL action this year after getting his feet wet in the minors.