What happened: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin called teammate Evan Bouchard "one of the best defencemen right now" and described skating alongside him as valuable experience. Mukhamadullin added that his approach on the blue line is to "try not to think too much, just play.

Why it matters: Mukhamadullin joined the Edmonton Oilers via signing and is acclimating to regular-season deployment alongside established skaters like Bouchard. Developing chemistry across the defensive pairings is a key focus as he settles into Edmonton's lineup.

What to watch: Edmonton continues its regular-season schedule as Mukhamadullin works within the defensive rotation.