Sharks Trade Ozzy Wiesblatt to Predators for Egor Afanasyev

 The Sharks have made a swap of AHL forwards today, sending Ozzy Wiesblatt to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Egor Afanasyev. 

This is a rather minor trade but was motivated by Wiesblatt struggling to properly develop in the Sharks system. Drafted 31st overall by the Sharks in 2019, Wiesblatt spent the past two seasons in the AHL, most of them with the Barracuda and ending this past season on loan to the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' AHL affiliate. He recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 34 AHL games this past season with the Barracuda along with six goals and nine assist for 15 points in 45 games in 2022-23. While on loan to Milwaukee to finish this past season, Wiesblatt registered three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 31 games, 15 of which were in the postseason. 

Selected 45th overall by the Predators in 2019, Afanasyev registered 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 56 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals this past season, leading the Admirals in goals and points and finishing third on the team in assists. He also scored his first professional hat trick and put up 14 multi-point efforts during the 2023-24 AHL regular season. In 15 Calder Cup playoff games this past season, Egor Afanasyev tallied five goals and four assists for nine points, including one hat trick. In addition, Afanasyev has one goal in 19 career NHL games with the Predators over the past two seasons. 

In all, I don't have any strong feelings about this trade for now, but it looks like the Sharks received the better player with a greater potential at this point in his pro hockey career in this deal. Afanasyev will also receive a greater opportunity to compete for a roster spot at the NHL with the Sharks than he ever did with the Predators, and this trade could greatly benefit the Sharks and their farm system in the long run. 

Source: Sharks + SAP Center App, NHL Discussion Page via Instagram 

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