5 Sharks Prospects Who Could Get NHL Opportunity After Trade Deadline

The Sharks are expected to sell at the deadline, and they'll have a few players who could benefit from it.

The San Jose Sharks are going to subtract some pieces before the rapidly approaching March 8th trade deadline. As a result, there will undoubtedly be some spaces that need to be filled. With that being said, while there are a few veterans who have been around the NHL lineup this season who can fill some spots, there are some prospects who could get an extended run during the spring whether it be their first opportunity at the NHL level or they’re back for the second or third time..

Thomas Bordeleau

The Sharks gave Thomas Bordeleau a short stint in the NHL to start the season, but he’s spent the majority of the season with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. He’s been finding a rhythm in the AHL though, and has been playing some of his best professional hockey to date. In 28 games with the Barracuda, he has 22 points and has started spending more time playing center rather than on the wing. He may not be 100% NHL-ready, but when there’s an open roster spot and the choice comes down to an aging veteran or a young prospect who needs to get familiar with the NHL, the decision should be obvious under these circumstances. Bordeleau is close enough to being NHL caliber, that more time in the AHL won’t help him take the next steps forward in his career. Once a few roster spots open up, I’d expect him to be one of the first called up. 

Shakir Mukhamadullin 

The Sharks gave fans a taste of what Shakir Mukhamadullin can do prior to the All-Star break, and he was certainly impressive during his short three-game NHL stint. David Quinn said after his debut that the Russian defenseman deserved to be in the NHL based on that game, and his teammates had quite a few compliments for him as well which I talked about in great detail earlier this season. 

Now the 6-foot-4 defenseman is back with the Barracuda and was their All-Star representative as a result of Daniil Gushchin’s injury that kept him out of the game. Despite missing the beginning part of the Skills Competition due to a major storm in the Bay Area, it was clear how much Mukhamadullin means to San Jose fans already after only a year with the organization. With the exceptional amount of talent he possesses, Mukhamadullin will be a mainstay in the NHL sooner rather than later and that may start in the very near future.