Film Room: Why Jake O'Brien could be the draft's best playmaker

Few prospects generated more debates inside our team than Jake O’Brien. 

Some of our scouts had him ranked in the 12-to-14 range; others placed him as high as their top five. This wide range doesn’t mean we saw a different player — we all agreed O’Brien is a highly creative talent — but we didn’t share the same projection for him.

In the end, he slotted in at tenth overall, a compromise reflecting both the risk and the upside of his projection.

Playing for Brantford in the OHL, the pass-first 6-foot-2 centre recorded 98 points in 66 games, thanks to his exceptional vision. This was the second-highest point total in the league for a 17-year-old this season, behind only Michael Misa. He also formed the league’s most devastating power play with Nick Lardis, helping the winger score an impressive