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2025 NHL Draft

Seattle Kraken Draft Jake O'Brien | NHL Draft Instant Analysis

Seattle Kraken Draft Jake O'Brien | NHL Draft Instant Analysis

The Seattle Kraken had the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Here's who they took with instant reactions from FloHockey's Chris Peters.

Jun 28, 2025 by Chris Peters
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The 2025 NHL Draft opened Friday, June 27, with teams across the league making key selections to shape their future rosters. Front offices emphasized youth, potential and long-term development, with scouts and executives closely watching how the first round unfolded. 

The annual event continues to serve as a pivotal moment for rebuilding franchises and playoff contenders alike, offering a chance to add foundational pieces.

 As expected, several top prospects came off the board early, drawing attention from fans and analysts around the league. 

Here's analysis on the Seattle Kraken's 2025 NHL Draft first-round pick.

No. 8 Seattle Kraken Select: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs

Scouting Report

With 98 points in the OHL this season, O’Brien made his mark as a high-end playmaker with excellent vision and decisiveness with the puck that helped make him a continual threat. He had 32 goals this season, showcasing a solid nose for the net and an ability to score goals in a variety of ways. O’Brien is a spindly 6-foot-2, with an opportunity to tack some muscle onto his frame to be more difficult to knock off the puck. He was still able to make plays in the hard areas of the ice and had creativity under pressure, which is encouraging for his ability to create and produce at the NHL level. His skill suggests he could be a credible No. 2 center in the NHL at the top of his projection.

Instant Analysis

The Kraken have drafted a center with every early pick they have had and continued that trend here. While there's a chance to bring in a quality defenseman here, the gap between O'Brien and the blueliners is pretty substantial. His incredible skill and creativity add more scoring pop to a team that certainly needs it long term. There's a likelihood recent pick Berkly Catton is moved to the wing. O'Brien might have to go that way, too, but the dynamic elements he brings will help Seattle in a significant way. They still need to address their shallow defense prospect pool, but you can't blame them. I had O'Brien ranked No. 7.

The 2025 NHL Draft Order

Round 1

  • 1. NY Islanders
  • 2. San Jose
  • 3. Chicago
  • 4. Utah
  • 5. Nashville
  • 6. Philadelphia
  • 7. Boston
  • 8. Seattle
  • 9. Buffalo
  • 10. Anaheim
  • 11. Pittsburgh
  • 12. Pittsburgh (from VAN via NYR)
  • 13. Detroit
  • 14. Columbus
  • 15. Vancouver
  • 16. Montreal (from CGY)
  • 17. Montreal
  • 18. Calgary (from NJD)
  • 19. St. Louis
  • 20. Columbus (from MIN)
  • 21. Ottawa
  • 22. Philadelphia (from COL)
  • 23. Nashville (from TBL)
  • 24. Los Angeles
  • 25. Chicago (from TOR)
  • 26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS)
  • 27. Washington
  • 28. Winnipeg
  • 29. Carolina
  • 30. San Jose (from DAL)
  • 31. Philadelphia (from EDM)
  • 32. Calgary (from FLA)

Round 2

  • 33. San Jose
  • 34. Chicago
  • 35. Nashville
  • 36. Philadelphia
  • 37. Washington (from BOS)
  • 38. Seattle
  • 39. Buffalo
  • 40. Philadelphia (from ANA)
  • 41. Montreal (from PIT)
  • 42. NY Islanders
  • 43. NY Rangers
  • 44. Detroit
  • 45. Anaheim (from CBJ via PHI)
  • 46. Utah
  • 47. Vancouver
  • 48. Philadelphia (from CGY)
  • 49. Montreal
  • 50. New Jersey
  • 51. Boston (from STL via PIT and EDM)
  • 52. Minnesota
  • 53. San Jose (from OTT)
  • 54. Calgary (from COL via WSH)
  • 55. Nashville (from TBL)
  • 56. Tampa Bay (from LAK)
  • 57. Seattle (from TOR via UTA and TBL)
  • 58. Vegas
  • 59. Pittsburgh (from WSH)
  • 60. Anaheim (from WPG via NJD)
  • 61. Boston (from CAR via COL)
  • 62. Chicago (from DAL)
  • 63. New Jersey (from EDM via UTA)
  • 64. Toronto (from FLA)

Round 3

  • 65. Vancouver (from SJS via VGK and NYR)
  • 66. Chicago
  • 67. Nashville
  • 68. Philadelphia
  • 69. Boston
  • 70. NY Rangers (from SEA)
  • 71. Buffalo
  • 72. Anaheim
  • 73. Pittsburgh
  • 74. NY Islanders
  • 75. Detroit (from NYR via UTA)
  • 76. Detroit
  • 77. Columbus
  • 78. Utah
  • 79. Montreal (from VAN)
  • 80. Calgary
  • 81. Montreal
  • 82. Montreal (from NJD)
  • 83. Edmonton (from STL)
  • 84. Pittsburgh (from MIN via PHI and NSH)
  • 85. Pittsburgh (from OTT via STL)
  • 86. Toronto (from COL via NSH and SJS)
  • 87. Carolina (from TBL)
  • 88. Los Angeles
  • 89. NY Rangers (from TOR via ANA)
  • 90. New Jersey (from VGK)
  • 91. Vegas (from WSH)
  • 92. Winnipeg
  • 93. Washington (from CAR)
  • 94. Dallas
  • 95. San Jose (from EDM)
  • 96. Ottawa (from FLA)

Round 4

  • 97. Ottawa (from SJS)
  • 98. Chicago
  • 99. New Jersey (from NSH)
  • 100. Boston (from PHI via TOR)
  • 101. Anaheim (from BOS via DET)
  • 102. Seattle
  • 103. Buffalo
  • 104. Anaheim
  • 105. Pittsburgh
  • 106. NY Islanders
  • 107. Chicago (from NYR)
  • 108. Montreal (from DET)
  • 109. Columbus
  • 110. Utah
  • 111. NY Rangers (from VAN via COL)
  • 112. Florida (from CGY)
  • 113. Montreal
  • 114. New Jersey
  • 115. San Jose (from STL via CBJ)
  • 116. Buffalo (from MIN via ANA)
  • 117. Vancouver (from OTT via EDM)
  • 118. Colorado
  • 119. Detroit (from TBL)
  • 120. Los Angeles
  • 121. Minnesota (from TOR)
  • 122. Vegas
  • 123. Washington
  • 124. San Jose (from WPG via DAL)
  • 125. Carolina
  • 126. Dallas
  • 127. Tampa Bay (from EDM)
  • 128. Florida

Round 5

  • 129. Florida (from SJS)
  • 130. Pittsburgh (from CHI via TOR and WSH)
  • 131. Nashville
  • 132. Philadelphia
  • 133. Boston
  • 134. Seattle
  • 135. Buffalo
  • 136. Anaheim
  • 137. Toronto (from PIT)
  • 138. NY Islanders
  • 139. NY Rangers
  • 140. Detroit
  • 141. Minnesota (from CBJ)
  • 142. Utah
  • 143. Vancouver
  • 144. Calgary
  • 145. Montreal
  • 146. Dallas (from NJD)
  • 147. St. Louis
  • 148. Pittsburgh (from MIN via NYR)
  • 149. Ottawa
  • 150. San Jose (from COL)
  • 151. Tampa Bay
  • 152. Los Angeles
  • 153. Toronto
  • 154. Vegas
  • 155. Washington
  • 156. Winnipeg
  • 157. Philadelphia (from CAR)
  • 158. Dallas
  • 159. Anaheim (from EDM)
  • 160. Florida

Round 6

  • 161. New Jersey (from SJS)
  • 162. Chicago
  • 163. Nashville
  • 164. Philadelphia
  • 165. Boston
  • 166. NY Rangers (from SEA)
  • 167. Buffalo
  • 168. Anaheim
  • 169. Pittsburgh
  • 170. NY Islanders
  • 171. NY Rangers
  • 172. Detroit
  • 173. Columbus
  • 174. Utah
  • 175. Vancouver
  • 176. Calgary
  • 177. Montreal
  • 178. New Jersey
  • 179. St. Louis
  • 180. Minnesota
  • 181. Ottawa
  • 182. Nashville (from COL)
  • 183. Carolina (from TBL)
  • 184. Los Angeles
  • 185. Toronto
  • 186. Vegas
  • 187. Vegas (from WSH)
  • 188. Winnipeg
  • 189. Carolina
  • 190. Dallas
  • 191. Edmonton
  • 192. Florida

Round 7

  • 193. Tampa Bay (from SJS)
  • 194. Chicago
  • 195. Buffalo (from NSH)
  • 196. Los Angeles (from PHI)
  • 197. Chicago (from BOS)
  • 198. Seattle
  • 199. Buffalo
  • 200. Anaheim
  • 201. Pittsburgh
  • 202. NY Islanders
  • 203. NY Rangers
  • 204. Detroit
  • 205. Columbus
  • 206. Tampa Bay (from UTA)
  • 207. Vancouver
  • 208. Calgary
  • 209. Montreal
  • 210. San Jose (from NJD)
  • 211. Detroit (from STL)
  • 212. Tampa Bay (from MIN)
  • 213. Ottawa
  • 214. Colorado
  • 215. Tampa Bay
  • 216. Los Angeles
  • 217. Toronto
  • 218. Columbus (from VGK)
  • 219. Buffalo (from WSH via SJS)
  • 220. Winnipeg
  • 221. Carolina
  • 222. Dallas
  • 223. Edmonton
  • 224. Florida

How To Watch The 2025 NHL Draft

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will be televised exclusively on the NHL Network as well as ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. Rounds 2-7 will be on NHL Network and ESPN+. 

FloHockey's Top 100 NHL Prospects

Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100 before the NHL Draft, see the full list here. 

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. 

Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

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FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

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