Ryan Warsofsky knows that Shakir Mukhamadullin had two assists on opening night. He\u2019s aware, joking not joking, that he\u2019s actually scratching his leading scorer.<\/p>\n
But being a defenseman in the NHL is more than just a pair of secondary assists.<\/p>\n
And Mukhamadullin is being sat for more than just his two stick penalties, high sticking and hooking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he got his legs moving as the game went on,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not a compliment.<\/p>\n
Mukhamadullin did not \u201cstart the game on time\u201d, according to the San Jose Sharks bench boss.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he\u2019s skating, he\u2019s very effective,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-4 Russian wasn\u2019t doing that early in the game, per Warsofsky, which diminished his effectiveness in all areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust his puck battles, going back for pucks, getting first touch on pucks,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cObviously, the penalties, we got to continue to work with him and controlling his stick and moving his legs more.\u201d<\/p>\n
A coach\u2019s feelings, as they often are, were ultimately expressed in Mukhamadullin\u2019s usage: The 23-year-old played just 12:45, the only San Jose Sharks blueliner to skate less than 18 minutes against the Vegas Golden Knights.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the other pairs were pretty good, fast team [in Vegas], so we liked our top-four there,\u201d Warsofsky said about his Nick Leddy-John Klingberg and Mario Ferraro-Timothy Liljegren pairings, and Dmitry Orlov.<\/p>\n
This is tough love for the young blueliner, but it is a deeper Sharks\u2019 defense this season, and they\u2019re trying to integrate top prospect Sam Dickinson<\/a> into the line-up too.<\/p>\n Dickinson will make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks, in favor of Mukhamadullin.<\/p>\n Dickinson’s always got jokes, even on the eve of his NHL debut.<\/p>\n His brother Jack couldn’t make it to San Jose today: “He’s setting up a watch party at home. In our basement. I don’t know if my parents know about that.”<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Warsofsky did stress that he didn\u2019t think Mukhamadullin played \u201cawful\u201d \u2014 but simply, there\u2019s a higher bar for staying in the line-up this season, with the likes of Dickinson and Vincent Desharnais around too.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s gonna be a good player,\u201d Warsofsky said about Mukhamadullin. \u201cEarly in the season, we want to get some guys in there.\u201d<\/p>\n San Jose Sharks (0-0-1)<\/p>\n Yaroslav Askarov will make his first start of the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n This is how the Sharks will line up:<\/p>\n Kurashev-Celebrini-Smith Leddy-Klingberg Askarov<\/p>\n Afanasyev is close too, has been ill last couple days<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “I guess,” Dickinson deadpanned, on if he was happy about childhood teammate Beckett Sennecke’s 1st NHL goal.<\/p>\n Sennecke joked: “I used to play center & he used to be my winger\u2026gave him like 6 breakaways a game & he never scored & then they put him on defense.” (H\/T @ZachCav<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Anaheim Ducks (0-1-0)<\/p>\n Anaheim Ducks morning skate lines @ San Jose 10\/11 \u2013 12\/13 swap, 34 first off:<\/p>\n Kreider-Carlsson-Terry LaCombe-Gudas Mr\u00e1zek-Dost\u00e1l#FlyTogether<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ryoy31Lzzc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) October 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Where To Watch<\/p>\n Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks is at 7 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Eklund-Wennberg-Toffoli
Skinner-Dellandrea-Graf
Goodrow-Gaudette-Reaves<\/p>\n
Ferraro-Liljegren
Dickinson-Orlov<\/p>\n
Gauthier-McTavish-Sennecke
Vatrano-Granlund-Killorn
Johnston-Poehling-Nesterenko
Colangelo<\/p>\n
Zellweger-Trouba
Mintyukov-Helleson<\/p>\n