Jay O’Brien

May 2023 – Between switching colleges (and being forced to take a year off of NCAA hockey), and COVID, O’Brien has had a tough go of it since being drafted. After a decent season to finish up at BU, O’Brien has learned that the Flyers will not be offering him a contract. He is free to sign anywhere. A wildcard if there ever was one, he could be a career minor-leaguer (likely), or an agitating third-liner if an NHL team is interested. Dobber

June 2022 – O’Brien recently underwent hip surgery. Reports indicate he is expected to be ready for the start of the 2022-23 NCAA season with Boston University. John Gove

June 2022 – Despite missing time due to injury last season, O’Brien remained one of Boston University’s more impactful producers, ranking fourth on the team in points and assists while scoring the third most goals for the Terriers. His 22 points in 24 games paint the picture of a young player progressively improving at a level many worried he’d ever reach after his shaky Freshman season and eventual departure from Providence. Still, O’Brien remains without a contract. With one more season left of his college eligibility, the Flyers have August 2023 to extend an entry-level contract offer to O’Brien, or they forfeit his rights. Chuck Fletcher may not feel as committed to a former first-round pick of the Ron Hextall era Flyers such as O’Brien. However, Philadelphia would be ill-advised to at least bring him in on his entry-level deal, as long as he continues to progress at the collegiate level. John Gove

March 2020 – Jay O’Brien has been rag-dolling the BCHL as he needed to restore faith in him. As promising as his 66 points through 46 games have been it is important to temper expectations as he is still expected to report to Boston University in the fall. It is still improbable that his transition to the college game will probably be less than seamless given the jump up in competition it is from Junior A. That being said, by any measure he has been taking more initiative on both sides of the puck. Edric Joseph

December 2019 – The gamble in playing for Penticton has been paying off for Jay O’Brien. After a dismal year for Providence he needed to find his game and confidence, he is doing just that to say the least. He has 47 points through 33 games and is looking like a former first-round pick, albeit against Junior A competition. He is still slated to try his hand at NCAA hockey again in the fall for Boston University. A good showing there would put him back in the conversation of being an offensive fixture at the professional level. Come what may, he needs to stay the course medically to put everyone at ease about his injury concerns. Edric Joseph

July 2018 – With the forward prospect cupboard filling up for the Philadelphia Flyers, they took something of a risk with drafting Jay O’Brien in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. He was ranked 32^nd among North American Skaters by Central Scouting, due in large part to the level of competition he has played against. That being said, his 80 points in 30 games this past season cannot be overlooked. He will give us a better indication of what to expect when he suits up for Providence College in the fall. Edric Joseph