San Jose Sharks Trade Prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt to Predators for Egor Afanasyev

Your San Jose Sharks have announced another trade after the acquisition of Ty Dellandrea. This time, the trade partner was a different team in the central division, as forward prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Egor Afanasyev. A trade sending Weisblatt to the Predators was in the rumor mill for a while as he spent most of the season with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' AHL affiliate, but now it is finalized.

Wiestblatt was the first-round pick of the Sharks in the 2020 NHL entry draft, 31st overall. He was the first-round pick the Sharks got for Barclay Goodrow from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, they have Goodrow back and are moving the pick they got for him onto greener pastures in Tennessee. Wiesblatt has not developed the way the Sharks would have wanted during his four seasons in the organization. He's further away from NHL-ready now than when he was drafted.

On the other side of this trade is Egor Afanasyev, a second-round pick of the Predators from 2019. He had a big season with the Milwaukee Admirals, as he tallied 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 56 games. Given his speed and playmaking ability, it's an excellent total for someone expected to be an offensive force. He's unlikely to repeat that on a poor team like the Barracuda, but it's still a decent return for a player who was unlikely to pan out. Afanasyev may play in the NHL for the Sharks next season.

All in all, this is a good trade. It sucks to move on from Wiesblatt, but given how he wanted to play in Milwaukee, this makes sense. His likelihood of making the NHL has only decreased since his draft day, but the Predators think they can get him developing. Afanasyev can be someone who will compete for a roster spot on the team next year with many other youngsters in the organization. How this trade turns out, only time holds the answer.