Nashville Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt (89) prepares to take the ice for a game against the Seattle Kraken on March 6, 2025 at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Nashville Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt is still processing his new reality.

His second-oldest brother Orca died in a single-vehicle crash on Sept. 14 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, devastating the tight-knit Wiesblatt family and the hockey community at large.

Orca, 25, was an accomplished player in his own right and spent last season with the Athens Rock Lobsters of the Federal Prospects League. He had signed a contract with the ECHL’s Allen Americans for 2025-26.

Off the ice, Orca’s impact on Ozzy, their other two brothers Ocean and Oasiz and sister Oceania was immense. 

“There’s a million things you could list off,” Ozzy told Main Street Nashville. “He was just a great guy. It’s hard to talk about it. Just a really good person. We’re all going to miss him a lot.”

While dealing with the early stages of grief, Ozzy rejoined the Predators in late September and made the most of his truncated preseason. The 23-year-old was named to Nashville’s opening-night roster on Oct. 6.

“It’s been crazy,” Ozzy said. “Being here with the guys, they’ve helped me so much with what I’m going through. I can’t thank them enough for that. It’s been fun to just play hockey and get back to it. It’s been really fun.”

Ozzy’s return to Nashville was eased by the presence of his younger brother Oasiz, 21, who signed a three-year deal with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals in April and attended Predators training camp on a professional tryout agreement.

The Wiesblatt brothers scored Nashville’s only two shootout goals at the Gold Star Showcase in Clarksville on Sept. 25 and played together again in a 4-2 preseason loss at Carolina three days later.

“I’m really proud of our group for how we’ve rallied around (Ozzy), from the veterans to the young kids, and his brother Oasiz,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “It was really cool to see (Oasiz) get a (preseason) game and see the boys rally around them. (Ozzy’s) had a good camp. He brings a lot of energy. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”

Ozzy is fresh off a career year in the AHL, where he registered 40 points in 64 games for Milwaukee. The hard-nosed right wing also made his NHL debut and had one assist, 13 hits, three blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over five games with the Predators.

Nashville acquired Wiesblatt, a first-round pick by San Jose in 2020, from the Sharks in exchange for left wing Egor Afanasyev in June 2024.

The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Wiesblatt could slot in next to center Michael McCarron and left wing Cole Smith on the fourth line. Tyson Jost, a recent waiver claim from Carolina, is also battling for the open role.

Competing for both a roster spot and playing time have been a welcome distraction for Wiesblatt. McCarron said he’s offered to be a listening ear for his new teammate but hasn’t pressed any further, especially not at the rink.

“If you didn’t know what was going on with (Ozzy), you’d never know,” McCarron said. “He’s doing great. We definitely have a great support system here in Nashville and great people we can talk to with high expertise on those types of things. It’s great to see him working hard and earning a spot for opening night.”

Wiesblatt described being included on Nashville’s initial roster as “a dream come true.” He isn’t expecting his family to be in attendance for Thursday’s opener against Columbus, but he knows his mother Kim White – who was born deaf and supported her four hockey-playing sons as a single parent in Calgary – will find her way to Bridgestone Arena soon.

“We’re all pretty used to being distant during the hockey season,” Ozzy said. “(My mom) does her best to get around when she can. She’ll be here at some point, and when she is, it’ll be awesome.”

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