Nashville Predators right wing Ozzy Wiesblatt (89) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (Image via AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) In an unfortunate incident, Nashville Predators forward is expected to be out of the team for 8-10 weeks after sustaining an upper-body injury, the team confirmed on Saturday. According to reports, the injury occurred during a game against the Florida Panthers. Wiesblatt left the ice in his very first shift of the game after a collision: he bumped into Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, then was clipped by his own teammate, Michael McCarron, while trying to recover. Following this, he was not seen returning to the game.The Predators are facing a major setback, as one of their defensemen, Justin Barron, has also gone to IR with an upper-body injury, though his timeline to return is week-to-week.Wiesblatt, who was drafted 31st overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2020 and then acquired by the Predators, has a goal and three assists for four points in 24 games played this season, with an average of just over 10 and a half minutes of ice time. Last season, the Calgary native put up just an assist in five games for Nashville, but registered 15 goals and 24 assists for 40 points in 64 games with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.
Ozzy Wiesblatt to remain out for 8–10 weeks, creating major challenges for the Predators
The Nashville Predators announced on Saturday that winger Ozzy Wiesblatt has been placed on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. Not only Wiesblatt, but defenseman Justin Barron was also placed on IR with a lower-body injury. As per the report, Wiesblatt will miss eight to 10 weeks, while Barron was given a week-to-week status.According to the NHL, the forward was injured in a 2-1 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. He left during his first shift of the game after colliding with Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe and then teammate Michael McCarron.It’s not known exactly when Wiesblatt suffered his injury, but he left the match and never returned against the Florida Panthers in the first period. He suffered the injury after losing balance and getting accidentally kneed in the left arm by teammate Michael McCarron.This season, Wiesblatt appeared in 24 games. He had one goal and three assists so far. He scored his first NHL goal just a few days earlier, on December 2, in a 5–1 win against the Calgary Flames. Meanwhile, Barron has already been out for the Predators’ last seven games because of his upper-body injury. According to recent reports, defenseman has recorded four assists in 19 games this year and is averaging a little over 15 minutes of ice time per game.He was originally drafted 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, then traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the 2021–22 season in the deal for Artturi Lehkonen. Last December, Montreal moved him to Nashville in exchange for defenseman Alexandre Carrier.Also read: NHL Trade Rumor: Quinn Hughes trade speculation explodes amid contract uncertainty with Vancouver Canucks | NHL News – The Times of India