Seattle Kraken 2025 1st round pick Jake O’Brien has found himself in a familiar position, as the most recent OHL Player of the Week.
The Brantford Bulldogs captain was recognized for his two goals and six points in three games during the OHL playoffs. O’Brien scored with 1:35 remaining in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Apr. 22, lifting Brantford over the Barrie Colts, 4-3. It was the capper of a two-goal, three-point night.
Overall, the 6-foot-2, 177 pound center has five goals and 21 points in 12 playoff games. The Bulldogs lead their semifinal series 3 games to 1, with Game 5 set for Thursday in Brantford.
‘Creativity and Vision’
The Kraken selected O’Brien in the 1st round, 8th overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft. Growing up, he was mentored by his mom, Amy Turek, a Canadian National Team player who ran her own hockey school.
“She was great to me, supporting me along the way,” O’Brien said at his draft media availability. “Knowing where to put me, what skills, developing me through her hockey school.”
He started at the age of four, and recalled one surprise. “It was actually all girls at the start and I had no idea. I was the only guy there.”
Kraken GM Jason Botterill has said two qualities set O’Brien apart. “Elite hockey sense, two-way ability. To have that creativity and that vision, it’s something that’s very difficult to improve on. The fact he has that as a starting point certainly drew us to him.”
O’Brien turns 19 in June. The Kraken had a teenage, 1st round, 8th overall draft pick skate for them this past season in Berkly Catton. It’s possible O’Brien could join him this autumn. If not, a change in policy between the NHL and Canadian junior hockey could provide an opening for O’Brien at AHL Coachella Valley.
Few Weak Weeks For Kraken Prospect
The OHL bestowed Player of the Week (PW) honors on O’Brien three times during the regular season. Not surprising for the pivot who scored 28 goals and 65 assists in just 53 games. His 93 points – 1.75 points-per-game – were the league’s best.
His first P of the W came Oct. 6-12, highlighted by his hat trick plus two helpers against Ottawa. PW #2 came Jan. 19-25, when he tallied four goals and five assists over three games. The third PW honor, Mar. 16-22, resulted from O’Brien’s back-to-back four-point efforts; a goal and three assists vs. Niagara, followed by two goals and two assists against North Bay.
“I’m very good at finding my teammates through little holes and little seams,” O’Brien has said, with the assist numbers to back him up. “I’m a good 200-foot player and I make the players around me better.”
He’ll get no argument from EliteProspects.com: “His playmaking is second to none in the draft class, and, in terms of creativity, he may be in a tier of his own. When he can’t spot a lane, he creates it, shifting defenders or faking a shot before dropping the puck to teammates.”
Red Tilson Trophy Finalist
Those results landed O’Brien among five finalists for OHL most outstanding player. Here’s what the CHL website said about O’Brien’s 2025-26 resume, during which he led the Bulldogs to the regular-season title.
“O’Brien’s 41 power play points paced the league. (Brantford’s power play operated at 34.8%, highest in OHL history). He remained a force at even strength, finishing with a plus-34 rating. He was voted the Eastern Conference’s smartest player and best playmaker in the OHL Coaches Poll.”
Center Likes Water, Even Non-Frozen
At last year’s Kraken development camp, I spoke to O’Brien about his other passion, fishing.
“To relax is a big thing for me. With fishing, I’m just getting on the water with the sunrise and sunset. It’s very relaxing, just casting and doing it with friends.
“We’re pretty into it. We’ll go up to my cottage and fish for 20-25 hours in a weekend. Fishing for muskie, the same family as pike.
“It’s called the fish of 10,000 casts; they’re tough to catch. When you catch one, it’s pretty electric and fun. 46 inches is my biggest one; a trophy size would be 50.”
(Editor’s Note: The Kraken have a crack at a top six pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, with a 7.5% chance at landing the top overall selection based on the results of the May 5th NHL Draft Lottery)
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