The New Jersey Devils took Shakir Mukhamadullin with the 20th-overall pick.
The New Jersey Devils selected Shakir Mukhamadullin with the 20th overall pick to put a cap on their first-round selections. This pick was given to them by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Blake Coleman trade. It originally belonged to the Vancouver Canucks but was given to the Lightning in the J.T. Miller trade. This was a selection that feels like the Devils might have reached for based on a lot of the pre-draft rankings.
It is a strange selection because you have to wonder if the Devils could have traded down to get him or taken him in the 2nd round. This was the type of draft, however, where you had to take the kids you believe are the best. The Devils showed some conviction with this pick in a year where they might have scouted a bit different than normal.
The Devils selected Dawson Mercer with the 18th-overall pick. With the 19th pick in between the two Devils picks, the Calgary Flames were set to pick. They traded the pick to the New York Rangers, so they snuck in between there. They took Braden Schneider and a lot of people believe they did that to keep New Jersey from getting him there at 20.
That could be a reason that the Devils went off the board to take Mukhamadullin. It only feels strange because of the fact that he was a lower-ranked prospect. They probably could have traded down to get him if they wanted. You never know but he was on nobodies big board that high. The hope now just needs to be that he is the next great draft steal.
He is a big boy. He is listed at 6’4″ and 179 pounds. That is pretty tall for a kid that young and he is continuing to put on weight. He was the seventh defenseman for Ufa of the KHL last year and is already their number one so far this year. He has one goal and five assists so far this KHL season that has already begun, so there might be a bit of offense in there somewhere too.
COVID-19 could be the reason he was ranked so low because people weren’t able to see him throughout the summer. The Devils could have just done their homework a lot better than everyone else because he is looking really good so far this year in his league compared to last year. Hopefully, he can continue raising his stock and making the Devils look good for drafting him. If he can come in and be a good and mean defenseman over the next few years, this will turn out to be a great pick.