Toronto Maple Leafs: Marlies Add Another Former Top Prospect

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to load up on former top prospects as Friday evening the Toronto Marlies announced they had signed 23-year old Jay O’Brien to an American League Contract.

O’Brien was previously drafted 19th overall in 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, the same draft where the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Rasmus Sandin 29th overall.

The Hingham, Massachusetts native just finished his fourth year playing in the NCAA and third with Boston University.  O’Brien won the NCAA Hockey East Championship this past season in Boston after collecting 32 points in 39 games.

The 6’0″, 184 lbs center decided not to sign with the Flyers and became a free agent on August 15, which led to the signing with the Marlies.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Jay O’Brien Background

O’Brien was drafted by the Flyers in the first round of the 2018 draft after playing in the United States Prep Hockey League for Thayer Academy where he led his team with 43 goals and 80 points 30 games.

After being drafted, he would attend Providence College for a season where he also represented the United States at the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship alongside Jason Robertson, Jack and Quinn Hughes.

After a season with Providence, O’Brien spent a year in the British Columbia Junior A league for the Penticton Vees, leading the team with 25 goals and 66 points in 46 games, along with ten more points in five playoff games.

The American born hockey player would return to the NCAA and finish his last three years with Boston University.

Sports Forecaster scouting report on O’Brien states “Can play a solid, two-way game. Skates well and is very detail-oriented in all elements of the game of hockey. Is a smart player with excellent vision and sound work ethic. Needs to add more bulk and get physically stronger in order to maximize output at the highest level. Also, he lacks elite goal-scoring talent. Needs to be more consistent.”

The signing of O’Brien comes right after the Toronto Marlies also added defenseman David Farrance who was a former Hobey Baker finalist and was also a former top prospect of the Nashville Predators.  The Marlies also added Robert Mastrosimone last week who is still just 22-years old and a former second round pick of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs management is making a lot of low risk signings by adding several players that have a lot of upside and if just one of these players turns things back around it would be a huge asset to the team moving forward.