San Jose Sharks prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt is currently on loan with the Milwaukee Admirals.

San Jose Sharks prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt is currently on loan with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Wiesblatt joined a team with championship aspirations in a season where they had a 19-game winning streak. 

The forward had never heard of players getting loaned and was informed of the move while on a plane ride to Chicago. 

"I was just on a plane ride to Chicago, and halfway through the flight, Coach pulled me aside and told me I was getting loaned here," Wiesblatt said. "[I had to get back to] San Jose, pack my stuff, and meet the team in Colorado, and here we are now."

Wiesblatt scored one goal and five assists in 16 regular-season games with the Admirals and one goal and five assists in eight playoff games.

The Admirals are still alive in the playoffs, taking on the Grand Rapids Griffins.

After arriving in Milwaukee, the former first-round pick became excited about his opportunity to play for a playoff-bound team. 

"I think my first reaction was pretty excited. I mean, going to a team like this. It's a very deep team and a really good team," Wiesblatt said. "To be in the playoffs right now is what you play hockey for. I'm really enjoying my time."

Wiesblatt was injured during the first parts of the season, and after he returned, he found himself getting healthy scratched and wasn't consistently in the San Jose Barracuda lineup. When asked about his development as a pro, he attributed a lot of it to just being in the lineup.

"I think a lot to do with it is I'm just getting more opportunity here. It's tough when you're not playing much and getting healthy scratched and things like that," Wiesblatt said. "Right when I got here, I've had a clean slate and out an honest opportunity to show what type of player I am and what type of player I know I can be. The coaching staff has put it in my hands really. It's up to me how I want to play every game."

Wiesblatt said he is excited for the Sharks about winning the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, but his focus remains on his new team's playoff run. 

"I'm just focused on playoffs right now. You hear about the draft lottery, and now they have the number one pick, which is special for the organization and exciting for them," he said. "Right now, I'm just focused on Milwaukee, just being here and in the present."

With Wiesblatt getting valuable playoff experience, the Sharks prospect has found where his game can be the most effective. He feels his style of play fits playoff hockey.

"I think that I've always been a real competitive player. I try to give it my all every shift. I think one of my strengths is being a good forecheck player," Wiesblatt said. "I think in playoffs, those things are tough to do and wear the other team down a lot. I'm really lucky to be in the position I'm in right now, getting a lot of opportunities here and just trying to make the most of it."

The Admirals' playoff run has been special so far. Down 2-0 in the Central Division Semi-Finals, Milwaukee had to win three straight to pull off a reverse sweep and take down the Texas Stars. With the help of former Sharks goalie Troy Grosenick, the Admirals pulled off the comeback.

"We faced some adversity in the first round, and we just stuck together as a team. I talked about the leadership group. They're amazing, and at the same time, we're a really young team," Wiesblatt said. "We have really good young players, guys that want to step up to the big moments. We've had some guys really step up and play amazing lately."

Now up 2-1 on the Griffins, Wiesblatt and the Admirals have a chance to move on to the Central Division Finals with a win tomorrow night.

While his loan spell ends after the Admirals' season eventually ends, Wiesblatt will have gained meaningful playoff experience and regained confidence in himself as a player. 

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