Michael Misa seems to be the consensus prize of this draft. Barring some draft day miracles, he isn't coming to Philadelphia. After that, the conversation gets kind of hazy. Misa is the top center, but who's next? Some say Sweden's Anton Frondell is the second-best center in this year's draft. James Hagens seems to be another popular one. Rounding out this year's "Mount Rushmore of NHL center prospects" is Jake O'Brien.
O'Brien will turn 18 before the draft. He played for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL for two years. This year, he lit it up with 32 goals and 66 assists. NHL's Central Scouting regards the 6'2", 172 lbs center as the fourth-best North American skater in the upcoming draft. This also came a year after he was the OHL's Rookie of the Year, scoring 13 goals with 51 assists as a 16-year-old.
O'Brien possesses the kind of vision everyone wants in a center. Elite Prospects says of him:
"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."
Almost all of the scouting reports agree that in the last year, he has built on his puck handling and "vision" skills, becoming a more well-rounded player. He might have to add some size to his frame to help round out his game some more, especially if he is going to tangle with some big, beefy guys in the Metro Division.
Still, O'Brien's upside shines through. He could be someone that the Flyers could employ with very little seasoning. If selected, he could make his NHL debut this October if he shines in camp. If he is on the board when the Flyers are called upon to make this selection, it might be a surprise to see Daniel Briere let him slip by.