SAN JOSE >> The Sharks were pleased to acquire Zack Ostapchuk from the Ottawa Senators last week, feeling the towering 21-year-old forward can bring a unique and valuable skillset to the team long term.

Noah Gregor, the other forward the Sharks received in the stunning trade deadline day swap that sent Fabian Zetterlund to the Senators, made it clear he wants to be part of San Jose’s future as he begins his second stint with the organization.

“This is a team that wants to go in the right direction, obviously, being in a rebuild here,” Gregor, 26, said Thursday. “Some great pieces coming up, so you should want to be a part of that, and I definitely do.”

Gregor, after waiting a few days for his work visa situation to be resolved, played his first game with the Sharks in just more than two years Thursday as San Jose faced the Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center.

Gregor has about five weeks to show that he fits in with the Sharks’ long-term outlook, once again set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Gregor is used to having to prove he belongs after the last two seasons.

The fourth-round draft pick by the Sharks in 2016, he had what he felt was a strong finish to the 2022-2023 season in San Jose, playing on a one-year contract. However, as a pending RFA, the Beaumont, Alberta native suddenly found himself unemployed after not being issued a qualifying offer by Sharks general manager Mike Grier, who was in his first year in the position.

Since then, Gregor has become more familiar with the less glamorous side of the sport.

He signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs after a professional tryout after leaving San Jose. However, the Leafs did not qualify him, so Gregor became a free agent again and signed with the Ottawa Senators in July, again for one year.

Gregor scored six points in 40 games for the Senators, then experienced being traded for the first time in his career. Gregor was at home relaxing when he got the call that he was being moved back to San Jose.

“I’ve definitely seen a lot of it now,” Gregor said of the business side. “Going on a PTO, and then signing as a free agent with Ottawa, now getting traded for the first time. So I’ve seen a lot of it here in the past two years.”

It’s still unclear if Ostapchuk’s visa issues have been resolved and when he will play his first game in the Sharks organization. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky did not know and a message left with Grier was not returned.

Ostapchuk, listed at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, was in San Jose earlier this week and is on the Barracuda’s roster. But it was not immediately known if he would be able to play for the Sharks’ AHL affiliate this weekend when they travel to play Tucson on Saturday and Sunday.

The Sharks received Ostapchuk, Gregor, and a 2025 second-round draft pick from the Senators in exchange for Zetterlund, AHL forward Tristen Robins, and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Grier says Ostapchuk, with his size and toughness, gives the Sharks something they do not already have in their pool of young forwards. Ostapchuk has had five fights between the NHL and AHL in two years and dropped New York Rangers tough guy Matt Rempe in a fight when they were both in the WHL.

“We played together quite a bit in Ottawa when he was up,” Gregor said of Ostapchuk. “Just a big, strong centerman that can skate. A lot of teams want the size and speed that he has. He’s been able to scrap a couple times in his career, so that obviously helps.

“When he gets in, just expect a physical player that’s got some speed, and he’s been able to score throughout his career. Once that kid’s clicking, he’s going to be a really good player.”