When Will Ozzy Wiesblatt Make the Sharks?

Ozzy Wiesblatt could take the next step in his development and has a chance to play for the San Jose Sharks this season.

Drafted No. 31 overall in 2020, San Jose Sharks prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt hasn't fully met expectations.

The 2020 NHL Draft class, in general, has been hit or miss. First overall that year was New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere, and he hasn't come close to being a No. 1 pick.

At No. 2 is Quinton Byfield, and he really hasn't lived up to expectations. Tim Stuzle went at No. 3 and probably should've gone number one.

The COVID-19 pandemic has much to do with these young stars' development. The NHL Draft took place virtually. After being drafted, the "2020-21" season didn't start until 2021.

For Wiesblatt, the adjustment to the AHL from the WHL hasn't gone as smoothly as he would like.

Last season, Wiesblatt played 45 games for the San Jose Barracuda and tallied just 15 points.

He wasn't in the lineup as consistently as he would've liked at the start of the year, but due to injuries and dedication, he finally became a consistent piece. 

Although the points may not have been there for the 21-year-old, the end of last season showed his development was back on track.

He skated with more purpose. He won puck battles in the corners. He created plays with his skill and tenacity, which made him a first-round pick.

On April 6, Wiesblatt scored his first career AHL hat trick. It couldn't have come at a better time, either. The San Jose Barracuda were in the heat of a playoff push, and this performance was needed. 

The story of Wiesblatt becoming a first-round NHL Draft pick is also unique. Ozzy's mother, Kim, is deaf. When he was drafted, the San Jose Sharks made the selection personal.

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Ozzy was one of five kids. He has three brothers who all play hockey. Kim was a single mother who sacrificed a lot to get her boys a chance to chase their dreams.

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Ozzy had a strong development camp back in July. Although he wasn't with the main groups doing drills, he participated in the prospect scrimmage.

He was seen as the group veteran and spoke after the game.

"I mean, we all wanted to win [the Marchment Cup], and these guys are awesome players," Wiesblatt said. "They're really good people off the ice too. That's really important too. So it just was lots of fun."

Wiesblatt said that many of the San Jose Sharks prospects came to him for advice or asking him questions.

"[I'm] Just used to being the younger guy around here," Wiesblatt said. "But that's also been a really big learning curve for me. It's just stepping up, and maturity is a big thing. It was lots of fun to get to know them and kind of teach them the ways. I've been through it for a couple of years now. So it was cool to just answer their questions and things like that."

Wiesblatt also told reporters that he feels that he is on a good development path right now. He explained that he felt his mental space was in a good spot. He said he would go home for two months and "Work his butt off."

Wiesblatt was recently invited to the NHLPA/Upper Deck Rookie Showcase. This should mean Wiesblatt will get his "young guns" trading card. 

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Wiesblatt got to skate with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard. 

All 32 teams were represented at the showcase; the complete list of participants can be found here.

The San Jose Sharks forward core seems to be set heading into the season, but with many veterans having one or two years left on their contracts, things could change.

Injuries can always breed an opportunity for Wiesblatt, but nobody cheers for a player to get hurt. 

Wiesblatt most likely won't make the NHL club right out of training camp, but all signs point to him having a prominent role for the San Jose Barracuda.

Wiesblatt is headed to the 2023 Rookie Faceoff in Las Vegas this weekend and will again have a chance to show that he is a step ahead of other San Jose Sharks prospects.

If Wiesblatt's season starts successfully and he shows consistency throughout all facets of his game, January could be the earliest we see Wiesblatt in the NHL.

GM Mike Grier has been trying to up the competitive level throughout the San Jose Sharks organization. Even though Grier did not draft Wiesblatt, Ozzy fits the player model of competitiveness Grier has been trying to build.