SAN JOSE >> The Sharks have been getting vital contributions from forward Collin Graf and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin in recent games, and both appear to be on track to become full-time NHL players next season.

But getting some AHL playoff experience along the way would not hurt either rookie’s development, and both Graf and Mukhamadullin are enthusiastic about potentially rejoining the San Jose Barracuda next month for what the Sharks hope will be a long postseason run for their top minor league affiliate.

The Sharks sent Graf and Mukhamadullin down to the Barracuda just before the NHL trade deadline on March 7 to ensure they would be eligible for the Calder Cup playoffs, which begin in less than a month. Barring a total collapse, the Barracuda will make the postseason for the first time since 2021.

“Playoff hockey is always fun,” said Graf, who won a NCAA Division I national championship with Quinnipiac in 2023. “There’s more on the line. Guys are giving a little bit more. Especially in college, playoffs are always the best time of the year. That’s what you play the whole year for, so it should be exciting.”

Graf came into Saturday night’s Sharks game against the New York Rangers with six points in his last nine games and is now in a top-six forward role. Just as importantly, Graf, 22, has been playing in all situations, both as a leading penalty killer and on the second power play unit, helping him average just over 17 minutes in ice time per game in that time.

Mukhamadullin had a career-high 25:26 in ice time Thursday in the Sharks’ 6-5 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mukhamadullin, 23, played over 20 minutes in nine of his last 10 NHL games before Saturday. He has adjusted well to the increased role after Jake Walman was traded to the Edmonton Oilers earlier this month.

Mukhamadullin had nine points in 21 games with the Barracuda this season before the Sharks recalled him in December. While still in the New Jersey Devils organization, Mukhamadullin played in three AHL playoff games for the Utica Comets in 2022.

“Everyone wants to play in the playoffs,” Mukhamadullin said. “If they need me to go (to the Barracuda), then for sure I would go there and play, and try to help the team win the Cup.”

Graf and Mukhamadullin would be massive additions to the Barracuda, which has sputtered recently, winning just four of its last 10 games before Saturday.

Before his recall to the NHL on Feb. 18, Graf, in his first full season as a professional, had 32 points in 35 games with the Barracuda and would likely be on the team’s top line for the AHL playoffs. Mukhamadullin would likely step into a similarly prominent role as a top-four defenseman.

Going into Saturday, the Barracuda were tied for fourth place in the AHL’s Pacific Division with 73 points, three points behind second-place Ontario. The top seven teams in the division make the postseason, with the first-place team earning a first-round bye and the second-through-fourth-place teams hosting a best-of-3 opening-round playoff series.

The Sharks’ season ends April 16 at home against the Edmonton Oilers, and the Barracuda’s last regular-season game is on April 20 in Calgary.

Along with potentially adding Graf and Mukhamadullin, defenseman Luca Cagnoni and forward Zack Ostapchuk also figure to be returned to the Barracuda at some point before the end of the AHL regular season.

ALso >> Vincent Desharnais missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury and did not travel with the Sharks for their two-game road trip to Southern California. Desharnais played through the injury Thursday but did not practice Friday.

The Sharks recalled defenseman Jimmy Schuldt to play against the Rangers.

The Sharks expect to have defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic available for today’s game in L.A.