EDMONTON, AB - Ostap Safin is entering Oilers Rookie Camp with a chip on his shoulder.
That's not a cliché, as the Oilers 2017 fourth rounder's right shoulder protrudes unlike his left, stemming from a shoulder injury he sustained in the 2018-19 season.
The left-shot right-winger was limited to 15 regular season games with the Halifax Mooseheads last year but managed to score three goals and 11 points. He was healthy enough to get back up and running for Halifax's playoff and Memorial Cup runs, as the club lost in the QMJHL Finals but hosted the perennial Canadian Hockey League best-on-best tournament after.
Despite the physical bump, the Czech is fully healthy and driven to return to form in the upcoming campaign.
"It was a mentally hard season to get through the injuries," said the winger at Day 2 of Rookie Camp. "I was kind of frustrated. First, it was a one-month layoff then three months. It was bad.
"But now it's in the past so I want to move on."
ROOKIE CAMP: Safin enters Rookie Camp with a chip on his shoulder
Ostap Safin is healthy and participating at Oilers Rookie Camp with a chip on his shoulder after navigating most of the 2018-19 season injured
