Kraken sign 2025 first-round pick Jake O’Brien to entry-level contract

The Seattle Kraken announced Thursday that the club has signed 2025 first-round selection Jake O’Brien to a three-year, entry-level contract.

O’Brien was chosen eighth overall by the Kraken last Friday in the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles.

A budding center with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, O’Brien wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with 98 points counting 32 goals and 66 assists coming in 66 appearances. In all, O’Brien ranked third in team scoring and seventh-best across the OHL. O’Brien then added 11 points counting three goals and eight assists in 11 postseason outings.

“O’Brien has the skills and the smarts to be a very impressive center in the NHL. His off-puck play is great, and he’s always out-thinking his opponents,” Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis said. “O’Brien just fell short of 100 points with 98, but he only continued to get better as the season wore on. He’s never going to blow you away with his pure skill, but his work ethic and ability to be effective in all three zones will allow him to have a solid career.”

Through two seasons and 127 total appearances with the Bulldogs, O’Brien has racked up 45 goals and 117 assists for 162 points. As a freshman, O’Brien led all OHL rookies with 64 points in 61 games to earn the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s Rookie of the Year as well as a spot on the CHL’s All-Rookie Team.

O’Brien’s strong play has also earned him a spot in international competition as the 18-year-old Toronto native has previously joined Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

O’Brien is the second player from the 2025 NHL Draft to have signed an entry-level contract. Earlier Thursday, the Washington Capitals agreed to terms with Swedish forward Milton Gastrin, the 37th overall selection.