“Stan Could Have Made a Hell of a Deal”: Babcock Praises New Oilers D-Man

Mike Babcock was asked about the play of new defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin after a solid performance on Saturday night, and in praising the big man, he praised his general manager for making a trade that many felt the Oilers were never going to win. The trade was Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks, and the return brought Zack Sharp and Mukhamadullin to Edmonton, the latter of whom looks like he might have earned a spot on the team.

---

Seemingly winning out a position on the roster over Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson, Mukhamadullin looks like he’s won over his coach.

“I liked him. He was big, he’s long, and what I like about his game tonight.. I’ve seen him in the past, watched him on video and he tried to be cute. He wasn’t cute tonight. He just made the right play over and over and over again.  And every time he’s out there, he’s still 6’5″, which is kinda nice.”

One preseason doesn’t cement Mukhamdullin’s spot on the roster, but things look promising. Babcock noted, “I’ve talked to him tons, just about his game. You know, I’m not big into walking back, it’s more about what’s going ahead. I think a lot of times, in the NHL, if you’re a star, it doesn’t affect you, but if you’re regular people, you start in one place and then you really take off in your next spot. Probably because you’ve learned a lot where you were, but you get mad and you don’t think they’re treating you as good, and all that stuff. You go to the next spot and get a fresh start. So that’s what we’re hoping for him. He’s a big man, he can skate and really pass the puck. We could be real fortunate; Stan could have made a hell of a deal there.”

Did the Oilers Win the Darnell Nurse Trade?

Some might ask whether Babcock was talking exclusively about Mukhamadullin or subtly taking a shot at Darnell Nurse. There’s no indication here that Babcock was thinking about or referring to Nurse’s departure. However, Bowman not only moved the full cap hit of the former Oilers blueliner but also picked up a solid piece in the deal, which has to be seen as a real win.

Few thought Edmonton could even trade Nurse and his salary. Not only did Bowman do so, but he added a piece that could be a solid player for the Oilers this season. If Mukhamadullin is anywhere near as good as Babcock thinks he could be, not only did the Oilers make a good trade, but they signed a useful player to a smart two-year extension. At $1.75 million per season, Mukhamadulli is making around 19% of what Nurse was being paid.

Next: Injury Rule Makes Cap Situation Suddenly Sticky for Oilers