Next up in this Flyers Draft Profile series is Jake O’Brien. On the NHL Central Scouting list, O’Brien is the fourth-ranked North American Skater entering the 2025 NHL Draft.
Jake O’Brien
Playing as a center for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, O’Brien recorded 98 points (32G, 66A) during the 2024-25 season. His 98 points were good enough to finish eighth overall in OHL scoring. He improved mightily in his second season with Brantford. In his rookie year in 2023-24, he recorded 64 points (13G, 51A) in 61 games played as a 16-year-old.
O’Brien is one of the younger players entering this draft class, as he is just 17, but has the long-term potential of being an effective center at the NHL level. He’s a likely candidate to be on the board when the Flyers make their first selection of the draft with the 6th overall pick.
Strengths
Coming in at 6’2″ and around 172lbs, O’Brien is a playmaking center that can play a 200-foot game. His playmaking abilities are what make him stand out in this draft class and give him the high potential to be an impactful NHL player.
O’Brien is a pass-first type of player, but he’s no stranger to wiring the puck into the back of the net. His shot is deadly when he takes full advantage of the opportunity. His elite passing abilities and vision allow him to excel on the powerplay and in high-danger chances. O’Brien did score more points on the powerplay rather than at 5v5 play this past season, so that may be a concern to some.
He’s also a mature two-way player. O’Brien is not overly physical with being 6’2″, but he does make contact when along the boards and operates with a smart stick to break up plays and separate the puck from the opponent. He’s active on the backcheck and transitions well from offense to defense.
Weaknesses
Two weaknesses in O’Brien’s game are his skating and strength. He has a small stride compared to his height, which makes him a slower skater. He can generate speed when crossing over, but his straight-line speed needs to improve.
O’Brien’s strength will also need to improve when jumping to the NHL level. He is on the receiving end of hits more times than not and can be overwhelmed when along the boards or fighting for a loose puck. He’ll need to fill out his frame more before it can become a bigger concern.
NHL Comparisons
An interesting comparison that comes to mind when watching O’Brien is Wyatt Johnston. Both players are nearly the same in height and weight, and they both play nearly identical styles. Johnston had a 124-point season with the Windsor Spitfires during 2021-22, and O’Brien can reach a similar stat line next season as he was just two points shy of 100 this past season.
A fit for the Flyers?
Jake O’Brien would be an intriguing fit for the Philadelphia Flyers. He seems likely to be on the board when the Flyers go to pick, and mock drafts do have O’Brien being selected by the Flyers. The Flyers also had dinner with O’Brien during the week of the NHL Combine.
Nobody knows how the board will fall, but if it is between O’Brien, James Hagens, or possibly Anton Frondell, I would personally rather go for either Hagens or Frondell. If the Flyers do select O’Brien, there would be no reason to worry as he does have a high floor and ceiling to be an effective NHL center.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
