Contrasting the games of Martin and O’Brien before the 2025 NHL Draft

NHL teams picking in the top half of the first round of the draft will have plenty of intriguing options — especially down the middle.

Two Ontario Hockey League centers have put themselves on the radar to land, potentially, amongst the first dozen selections.

Brady Martin of Sault Ste. Marie and Jake O’Brien of Brantford have been battling against each other — and occasionally found themselves on the same team — since the 2023 OHL Cup. O’Brien helped the Toronto Jr. Canadiens claim victory with a goal and an assist in the final in 2023 and is the higher-ranked player on FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2025 draft, finishing at No. 8. Martin, who was taken five spots ahead of O’Brien in the 2023 OHL Priority Draft, finished as the No. 14 player.

“These players are ranked very closely, and for good reason,” FCHockey scout Mike Kennedy said. “To me, O’Brien’s vision and overall offensive prowess give him the slight edge in the rankings, however it would not surprise me to see a team reach a little for Martin, as his competitive drive is outstanding.”

Let’s examine the similarities and differences of the two Ontario pivots.

O’Brien’s Standout Traits

O’Brien racked up 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 regular season games and added another 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 11 playoff contests, showcasing his ability as a premier playmaker. Only Michael Misa, FCHockey’s No. 2 ranked player, had more helpers among draft-eligible players in the OHL.

The 6-foot-2, 172-pound center is a gifted passer whose elite hockey sense and mature, two-way game allow him to impact play in all situations. He excels as a facilitator, using outstanding vision, timing, and spatial awareness to create opportunities for teammates. His puck distribution is sharp and efficient, particularly through seams and in give-and-go situations, and he consistently identifies soft ice to exploit defenses. With quick, purposeful hands and strong puck protection in tight areas, O’Brien maintains possession and drives offense with poise.

“O’Brien has great vision and skill with the puck, setting up chances at will and controlling the play with his patience,” FCHockey scout Joseph Aleong said. “He’s tenacious off the puck, fighting to get to the middle lane offensively and holding his own on defense and on the penalty kill.”

O’Brien’s Areas of Improvement

While O’Brien has showcased a pretty well-rounded game in his two OHL seasons, there are still some things he needs to work on. The center proved he could be more of a goal scorer in his second campaign with 32, up from 13 in his rookie year. However, there’s still more room for him to grow when it comes to putting the puck in the net himself. The Brantford, ON middleman does a terrific job using his frame to help in positioning in both the offensive and defensive zones and on special teams, but scouts would like to see him throw his body around a little more.

“He’s not currently much of a shooting threat or physical presence,” Aleong said. “This could limit his effectiveness and ability to find open lanes in the offensive zone in the NHL.”

Martin’s Standout Traits

The hallmark of Martin’s game is his compete level and his physicality. He rarely passes up a chance to dish out some pain on an opponent. He’s also developed a new gear as a goal scorer in his second OHL season. After a modest 10-goal campaign as a rookie, Martin had 33 goals in 77 games, finishing third in the OHL among draft-eligible players behind Misa and Porter Martone, FCHockey’s no. 5 ranked player.

He is a high-energy, two-way forward who blends physicality, work ethic, and skill into an impactful all-around game. He plays with relentless intensity, consistently finishing checks, disrupting opposing breakouts, and battling hard along the boards and at the net front. His explosive first step, strong skating base, and straight-line speed allow him to pressure effectively, retrieve pucks, and drive wide with control. Offensively, he owns a heavy, accurate shot — particularly dangerous from the hashmarks and in soft ice — and displays confidence shooting under pressure. Martin supports possession with strong habits, lifting sticks, winning battles, and working through the dirty areas to extend plays.

“The level of compete he brings is second to none,” Kennedy said. “Leadership qualities are highly evident in his game as well.”

Martin’s Areas of Improvement

The right shot center should have an incredibly translatable game to the NHL.

The question lies around where his ceiling will be. His tenacious qualities will entice teams to draft him to be a bottom-six player, but with improvements he could find himself further up in the lineup.

“Better decision-making in terms of his playmaking and offensive IQ,” Aleong said. “He can get tunnel vision, and his vision in the offensive zone could improve. Working to increase his poise with the puck could also help raise his offensive ceiling in the NHL.”

There’s still room for the 6-foot, 176-pounder, with a March 2007 birthday, to grow his game to be ready for a potential bigger role in the NHL.

“If Martin can fine-tune his skating mechanics and improve his goal-scoring touch, it will enhance his overall game,” Kennedy said.

Why One Over the Other?

Both Martin and O’Brien have cemented themselves as top prospects down the stretch with strong finishes to the season. The determining factor when picking between these two will be upside.

O’Brien, No. 4 amongst North American skater by NHL Central Scouting in its Final ranking for the 2025 draft, has demonstrated a higher level of production at the junior level and thus earned an edge in rankings. Martin, No. 11 on that same list, also offers attributes that make him an extremely attractive option for NHL teams.

“O’Brien could have higher long-term offensive upside with his more impressive vision and puck-handling ability,” Aleong said. “But Martin’s high-end compete level and physicality, along with his consistency attacking dangerous areas, could make him the more projectable NHL player and favored prospect on draft day.”

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