Seattle Kraken 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien has been named the captain of his OHL club, the Brantford Bulldogs.
The 18-year-old was selected by the Kraken with the eighth overall pick after he scored 32 goals and 98 points in 66 OHL games with the Bulldogs. He finished third on the team in goals and points, but after the departures of Nick Lardis, Patrick Thomas and Cole Brown, O'Brien's importance to the franchise has grown.
O'Brien is a homegrown talent of the Bulldogs. The organization selected him eighth overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Draft following a stellar season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and an exceptional OHL Cup display where he notched seven goals and 17 points in seven games, leading the tournament in points en route to victory.
Standing 6-foot-2, 172 pounds, O'Brien has a lot of work to do to get his frame NHL-ready and to improve his skating stride, but he has all the tools to be successful at the next level. He's a very smart two-way center with one of, if not the best, playmaking instincts in the draft.
The expectation is that O'Brien will earn a spot on Canada's world junior team and possibly play a large role as a middle-six center.
A strong season will go a long way for O'Brien. If he dominates the OHL, earns a spot on Canada's World Junior Team and performs, he could be one of the first players to benefit from the new CBA agreement, which will allow the Kraken to send O'Brien to the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Kraken Sign Eighth Overall Pick Jake O'Brien To An Entry-Level Contact
The tradition continues as the Seattle Kraken have signed 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien to a three-year, entry-level contract ($975,000 AAV) after the conclusion of the Stucky Cup.