As we continue to look at 2025 NHL draft-eligible prospects, we head to the OHL to analyze center Jake O'Brien and what he could provide the Seattle Kraken if they drafted him with the eighth overall pick.

Listed at 6'2, 170 lbs, pretty quickly it's evident what O'Brien desperately needs to improve, which is adding weight and muscle to his frame. Thankfully, it's not much of a worry and is expected from young forwards. O'Brien will be able to add weight to his frame quite easily, which will complement the strengths of his game.

Those strengths include a high hockey IQ, precise passing and playmaking, and an NHL-ready shot. In the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs this season, the 17-year-old scored 32 goals and 98 points in 66 games, improving on his 13-goal and 64-point rookie campaign in which he played 61 games.

"I’m a very smart player, I have high hockey IQ," O’Brien said at the draft combine. "I can make tight seam plays, very good at passing."

Another area for improvement in O'Brien's game that could benefit from adding weight is his skating. O'Brien's skating stride could use improvement, but because he's so light on his feet, he gets knocked down quite easily. 

"Displaying close to x-ray vision, O’Brien spots the tiniest seams between skates, under sticks and above them. He sees through multiple defenders and behind his back, spotting teammates running at the back post and attacking a few steps late. When he can’t spot a lane, he creates it, shifting defenders or faking a shot before dropping the puck to teammates." -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide.

Kraken 2025 Draft Targets: Radim Mrtka The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is 24 days away, and the Seattle Kraken are slated to make the eighth overall pick in the first round. 

Similar to Anton Frondell,  O'Brien projects to be a top-six center with high upside both offensively and defensively. Where they differ is how they approach both aspects. O'Brien is a wizard with his stick, using it to knock pucks away from his opponents and make slick passes to set up his teammates. Frondell uses his body defensively and showcases his heavy shot very frequently. 

As the draft nears, O'Brien has seen his name all over draft boards, some as high as third overall and others around pick No.10. His fit with the Kraken would be interesting, as they have three young centers already, but a long-term outlook of Shane Wright, Matty Beniers and Jake O'Brien with Berkly Catton on the wing could form a strong offensive core. 

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Kraken 2025 Draft Targets: Porter Martone Plenty of signs point towards the Seattle Kraken using the eighth overall selection on a defenseman, but if they are looking to draft the best available, and Porter Martone was there at eight, they could be all over it. 

Kraken 2025 Draft Targets: Jackson Smith Next on the list as a possible target for the Seattle Kraken at eighth overall is Canadian defenseman Jackson Smith.