Jake O’Brien Ahead of Porter Martone and James Hagens ?
Despite more than acceptable production, Porter Martone and James Hagens have not necessarily met the expectations placed on them this season. With these high-level forwards dropping in the projections for the 2025 NHL Draft rankings, Jake O’Brien is now entering the conversation for the top 5. Here is the profile of this elite prospect who has risen in the eyes of observers throughout the season due to his creativity and versatility.
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Jake O’Brien Prospect Profile for the 2025 NHL Draft
Jake O’Brien is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed center currently playing for the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). As of this writing, the prospect has played 62 games, recording 32 goals and 61 assists for a total of 93 points, with a -6 rating and 16 penalty minutes.
These impressive statistics place him among the league’s top scorers despite his young age, and he is one of the primary reasons the Bulldogs sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. With Marek Vanacker missing the start of the season, the duo has been outright dominant night after night since his return. O’Brien is particularly valuable to his coaches, centering the second line and being heavily utilized on special teams.
Mobility and Toughness
Jake O’Brien is not necessarily an elite skater, but his stride is smooth and significantly enhanced by his strong anticipation skills. His fluid skating and high-paced motor allow him to cover all areas of the ice effectively, both offensively and defensively. The prospect possesses elite intelligence in puck possession. Whether in transition or the offensive zone, he exploits gaps extremely well to create space. This ability can make him appear everywhere on the ice or deceptively fast, but it is his analytical skills that truly stand out.
In terms of physicality, his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame suggests he has yet to reach full physical maturity. There is significant room for improvement in this aspect, which is good since it remains one of his weaknesses. It is not that this center avoids contact or plays primarily on the perimeter, but it is not uncommon to see him lose battles when his opponent plays the body. He must work on his balance and lower-body strength. Without these improvements, reaching his full potential in the NHL will be challenging.
Offensive Potential
O’Brien’s offensive potential is one of his primary strengths. The young forward has a precise and quick shot that can surprise opposing goaltenders. However, he is not necessarily an elite goal scorer. His shot lacks some power, and he tends to prioritize playmaking over shooting. What allows him to rack up points in the OHL is his exceptional vision and ability to read the play as it unfolds, exploiting openings with precision. His quick hands and ability to disguise his intentions frequently deceive both goaltenders and defensemen.
As a playmaker, Jake O’Brien demonstrates outstanding vision. The prospect anticipates his teammates’ movements, recognizes defensive formations in advance, and delivers creative passes even in tight spaces. He may very well be the best playmaker in the 2025 NHL Draft class, as he executes everything at a high pace and is nearly impossible to read. His game translates well to the NHL due to his high hockey IQ and the fact that he can manipulate opponent easily.
His puck-handling skills are also noteworthy. The right-handed center controls the puck effortlessly and executes dekes primarily in anticipation of defensive reactions rather than in response to them. This allows him to elude defenders with a well-developed array of moves while minimizing turnover risks. Often, his offensive awareness and puck movement create numerous scoring opportunities, and Jake O’Brien simply takes full advantage of them.
Defensive Game
Defensively, the prospect demonstrates a strong commitment and a deep understanding of a center’s defensive responsibilities. He is frequently deployed on the penalty kill, where his ability to intercept passes and block shooting lanes is highlighted. His defensive positioning is solid, and he effectively supports his defensemen by making himself a passing option.
His biggest limitation remains his lack of physical strength along the boards and in front of the net. He compensates with his intelligence and intensity, but it is still a slight issue at this stage. Additionally, with a 45% faceoff win rate on 1,055 attempts so far, it is clear that he still has work to do before being NHL-ready in this area.
Ranking Projection of Jake O’Brien for the 2025 NHL Draft
Projections for the 2025 NHL Draft place Jake O’Brien among the top prospects. He has generally been seen near the top 10 since January due to his remarkably consistent production. Personally, in my previous rankings, he was ranked 15th in August, 8th in November, and 4th in my most recent list in February. He could even reach the top 3 if he has an exceptional playoff run in the OHL.
He was highly praised by my college Simon St-Laurent last season while he was a rookie in the OHL (64 pts in 61 games). He even predicted in a text on TSLH Prospects that O’Brien would be at the bottom of the first round for most of the people at the beginning of the 24-25 season just to rise in the top 10 by the end of the season. To say the least, « St-Lo » was right.
I would like to end by opening a little discussion about his teammate Jake O’Brien. I think he’s a fantastic player and he’s already my favorite for next year’s draft. Seeing a 16-year-old dictate the play like he did in his rookie year is fascinating. The word with him is efficiency. Everything he does is so well calculated; all his passes reach their target (tremendous playmaker) and his offensive intelligence as well as without the puck is extremely high. There isn’t, of course, much discussion surrounding him ahead of next year’s draft, but from what I see publicly, he is ranked relatively low. I’ve seen him around 10 for the OHL alone. I’m going to throw you what we call a Hot-Take, but he is currently ranked ahead of Michael Misa on my list (beneficiary of exceptional player status in the OHL in 2022). I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets dangerously close to 100 pts next year in his draft season and I believe that from the 2nd half of the season, his name will be well established in the discussions surrounding the selections 6 to 10 for the draft. He is currently 5th for me.
Simon St-Laurent 18 juin 2024
If Jake O’Brien enters the top 3, this would place him ahead of James Hagens and Porter Martone (6th in February) in my rankings. So far, he has shown an exceptional profile and consistency compared to the other two, who have been somewhat disappointing relative to my expectations. Porter Martone is producing at an incredible pace, but he is not fulfilling his role as a power forward. He racks up a lot of points through junior-level plays that may not translate well to the next level. At the start of the season, he was expected to be fierce and physical, but Martone has never really demonstrated that attitude on the ice this year. This makes it difficult to project him in that role in the NHL.
As for James Hagens, the American is having a good season, but more was expected from him offensively, especially considering the quality of his wingers at Boston College. With his below-average size and doubts about his ability to play center in the NHL, his draft ranking has taken a significant hit, making it harder to justify having him in the top 3. The tournament leading up to the Frozen Four will be crucial for him.
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