9. Ostap Safin – Right Wing (115th overall, 2017)
Ostap Safin‘s first season in North America has to be considered a success. After Detroit Red Wings‘ 2018 first-round pick Joe Veleno was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in December for six draft picks, Safin carried the offensive load for the rebuilding St. John Sea Dogs. Safin paced the team in goals (26), assists (32) and points (58) in 61 games as an QMJHL rookie in 2017-18.
On the international stage, Safin represented Team Czech Republic at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, losing in the Bronze Medal Game to Yamamoto and Team USA. Safin, who played pro hockey in the Czech Extraliga as a 17-year-old in 2016-17, joined the Condors in March at the conclusion of the Sea Dogs’ campaign and scored one goal in nine AHL games.
The 19-year-old is still very raw, but there’s a lot to like about the player. At 6-foot-5 and 192-pounds, he’s enormous, but still possess good straight-line speed and shields the puck well. Because he was playing in Europe when he was drafted, the Edmonton Oilers have the option to play him in the AHL as a teenager in 2018-19 or send him back to junior for another year.
I think he’s probably going back to play another year in the QMJHL, and hopefully play a more significant role for the Czechs at the World Juniors, but the Oilers might want to take advantage of this chance to get him to the AHL a year early.