Predators Sign Ozzy Wiesblatt To Two-Year Extension

The Predators have signed forward prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt to a two-year, two-way extension, per general manager Barry Trotz. The deal is worth $775K per season at the NHL level, but his minor-league salary wasn’t disclosed.

It’s a nice bit of organizational security for the 2020 first-round pick of the Sharks, who’s had a peculiar last few months. The 22-year-old winger was in his second season with the Sharks AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, last year. But after posting underwhelming rookie totals, he still struggled to pop off offensively on one of the AHL’s worst teams. After scoring three goals and 11 points in 34 games and struggling to get much playing time, the Sharks loaned him to Nashville’s affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, without rescinding his NHL rights.

Wiesblatt finished the season with a goal and five assists in 16 appearances for Milwaukee. He appeared to gain more confidence in postseason play, registering nine points in 15 Calder Cup Playoff games as the Admirals advanced to the Western Conference Final. That showing piqued the Preds’ interest enough to acquire his NHL rights in June, sending the signing rights to forward Egor Afanasyev to the Sharks in return.

Now in the final year of his entry-level contract, the Calgary native has two assists and a +1 rating in six appearances for Milwaukee in 2024-25. He’s still likely a ways away from seeing NHL action, but he’s done enough to secure an extended minor-league audition. He has plenty of runway to continue his development and rediscover the form that led him to churn out 25 goals and 70 points in 64 games in his draft year for WHL Prince Albert, convincing San Jose to select him with the final pick of the first round.

Wiesblatt will be 25 years old when his extension expires in the summer of 2027. He’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at that time and will have two years of team control left.