

Bruins Logo (© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery took place on May 5, and it was a rough night for the Boston Bruins. The Bruins got the worst outcome possible, dropping from fifth to seventh for the upcoming draft. There was a 13.5% chance this would occur, and it unfortunately did for the Original Six club.
While falling down in the draft lottery is never a good feeling, the Bruins are still at least in a good spot with the seventh overall pick. The possibility of them landing an impactful prospect is still certainly there, and one player they should undoubtedly be targeting with it is center Jake O'Brien.
O'Brien is coming off a spectacular season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and has raised his value in the process. In 66 games with the OHL squad this campaign, he posted new career highs with 32 goals, 66 assists, and 98 points. This is after he had 13 goals and 64 points in 61 contests this past season with the Bulldogs. Clearly, the 6-foot-2 center took a major step in his development this campaign.
Another aspect about O'Brien that should be appealing to the Bruins is the fact that he is one of the younger players in the draft. His birthday is June 16, meaning he is still just 17 years old and will be 18 for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. Thus, he has plenty of time to continue to grow his game and could have himself another significant jump next year.
The Bruins desperately need help down the middle, and if O'Brien is still available at the seven spot, they need to seriously consider selecting him. He would immediately become one of their best prospects and give their prospect pool a major boost.
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