Bad news, Predators fans: Ozzy Wiesblatt is sidelined. The young forward will be out for a significant period due to an upper-body injury. This unfortunate situation is expected to keep him off the ice for 8 to 10 weeks.
Wiesblatt sustained the injury during a recent game against the Florida Panthers, a contest the Predators ultimately won in overtime with a score of 2-1. The incident occurred during Wiesblatt's very first shift, following a collision involving Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe and his own teammate, Michael McCarron.
Before this setback, Wiesblatt had shown promise, accumulating four points this season, which includes one goal and three assists across 24 games. A highlight of his season was scoring his first NHL goal in a dominant 5-1 victory against the Calgary Flames on December 2nd.
Drafted as a first-round pick (No. 31 overall) by Nashville in the 2020 NHL Draft, Wiesblatt has a total of five points (with one goal and four assists) in 29 games throughout his career.
Adding to the Predators' injury woes, defenseman Justin Barron is also dealing with an upper-body injury. He's listed as week-to-week and was placed on injured reserve on Friday. Barron has contributed four assists in 19 games this season but hasn't played since November 16th.
This could be a real blow to the team. With key players out, the Predators will need to adjust their strategy.
The Nashville Predators, currently holding a record of 10-13-4, are scheduled to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you think the Predators can overcome these injuries and maintain their competitiveness? Share your opinions in the comments below!
