Marc-Edouard Vlasic might play his 1,300th NHL game Thursday when the San Jose Sharks face the Columbus Blue Jackets

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks returned defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL on Monday morning before leaving for a five-game road trip.

Once again, the San Jose Sharks have found themselves on the losing end of games. Coming into the second half of the season, they had been hopeful after acquiring two back-to-back wins.

From a positional and organizational standpoint, it would be easy to see Ceci fitting in with the Sharks long-term. The other right-shot defensemen on San Jose’s roster are Jan Rutta, another pending UFA, and Timothy Liljegren, who is signed through next season but has mainly been used in a middle-pair role.

The sharks have reassigned one of their top defensive prospects.