Ozzy Wiesblatt’s WHL rights acquired by Portland Winterhawks

It seems odd to suggest, but could Ozzy Wiesblatt, the San Jose Sharks’ first-round draft pick in 2020, be going back to junior hockey?

The Portland Winterhawks announced Tuesday that they’ve acquired the Western Hockey League rights to Wiesblatt, now with the San Jose Barracuda, from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for a conditional first-round WHL Prospects Draft pick in 2025 and two conditional second-round picks in 2026.

The trade is conditional upon Wiesblatt being assigned and reporting to Portland by San Jose. Efforts to reach the Sharks for comment were not immediately successful.

Wiesblatt, 20, is in the first year of his three-year entry-level contract with the Sharks and has one goal and four assists in 17 games with the Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate. The Barracuda had a 15-19-0-1 record entering their game Tuesday night against Coachella Valley.

Wiesblatt played in just six of the Barracuda’s 12 games in December but has played in two of the Barracuda’s three games this month, collecting one assist. Wiesblatt has spent almost all of this season in the AHL, although the Sharks did assign him to the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL in October before he was recalled a day later.

Wiesblatt was selected 31st overall by the Sharks in 2020 with a draft pick they acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Barclay Goodrow.