Ostapchuk ‘Fired Up’ To Be Part of Sharks’ Bright Future, Will Take on All Comers

Zack Ostapchuk thought he had made it through the Trade Deadline without being moved, so he turned off the TV when 3 PM ET passed.

But Ostapchuk, who was in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with the Belleville Senators, got a call about five minutes later, that the Ottawa Senators had traded him, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 second to the San Jose Sharks for Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a 2025 fourth.

The 6-foot-4 center prospect made his San Jose Sharks debut on Saturday.

“I don’t think I was really expecting to be traded, but as soon as I found it was here to San Jose, I was fired up,” Ostapchuk said. “It’s a very bright future here, and I’m a younger guy, and to hopefully be a part of that. It’s exciting.”

Ostapchuk, 21, might be best known around the league for taking down feared New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe in a fight back in juniors.

Matt Rempe has been making a name for himself quickly with the Rangers this past week. Here’s a scrap between him and #GoSensGo prospect Zack Ostapchuk from a couple years ago. pic.twitter.com/NeKfTeGsHA

— jamisonderksen (@jamisonderksen) February 25, 2024

At the very least, he said it’s what he gets asked about the most, from reporters and his new teammates.

“That was a while back. He’s obviously a better fighter now, but yeah, I got him,” the 2021 Senators’ second-round pick said, smiling.

San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier certainly took notice.

“I think everyone knows what Rempe is, and he did pretty well – not that he’s a fighter or anything like that, or what we’re expecting – it just shows his character, leadership, and his toughness,” Grier said after the Trade Deadline.

And in his first game in teal, Ostapchuk took on Tom Wilson – someone he tries to emulate on the ice.

Zack Ostapchuk says he models his game after Wilson and Josh Anderson. But that didn’t keep him from accepting Wilson’s invitation to dance on Saturday, though the results weren’t Rempe-like.

“Obviously, I’ve got to work on my skills a little bit. [He had me] pretty clamped up, I couldn’t get much going in that fight, but it’s a good learning experience,” he smiled. “He kind of surprised me. His gloves came off pretty quick, and I still had one on. So, it’s grabbing him and trying to shake that one off.”

TOM WILSON MAKES LIGHT WORK OF ZACK OSTAPCHUK 😳🥊 pic.twitter.com/rODdyroGUR

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 15, 2025

But the point is? Ostapchuk plays with no fear.

“He stood up and fought one of the toughest guys in league. It’s not an easy thing to do, so a lot of the guys in here really respected it,” veteran Tyler Toffoli said.

For Ostapchuk, it’s about the team.

“It gets me into the game. I think it gets my teammates into the game,” Ostapchuk said. “That’s something I like to try and bring every night. I just like to just agitate guys and maybe, hopefully they take a penalty on me or something.”

Ostapchuk played 43 games with Ottawa this season and 15 with their AHL affiliate, with one goal and four points in Ottawa and three goals and 11 points in Belleville.

He said he’s been learning how to win and play faster with an Ottawa team that’s currently in the wild card hunt: “The pace, and I feel like everybody in the NHL, they think the game at a very high level, and I think that’s something I’m getting used to is just thinking the plays and being in the right spot all the time, I think that’s huge up here.”

Ostapchuk also wants to improve his size and strength to support how he uses his body.

Grier certainly believes in the upside of Ostapchuk, as he highlighted his scouts’ high opinions of the player following the trade.

“When you see him, he’s big, fast, he plays hard. He’s got good details for a young player. He goes to the hard areas, he’s physical, he’ll stick up for teammates when he needs to. There’s just some sort of an element there when you have someone like that who’s got those tools to play against other teams’ top players. It’s an essential thing these days, and it’s something that we lacked,” Grier said.

No doubt, Ostapchuk made a strong impression in his debut, showing winning traits in a losing effort.