TeeEyeFiddyTree
Registered User
- Mar 31, 2025
- 13
- 70
O'Brien has a long runway as a relatively young June 2007 birthdate, plus he played only on the second line (2C), though on PP1 for Brantford. Still, considering his younger age, he's not yet filling out his big 6'2" frame. With his elite hockey IQ and playmaking skill, you can say he has barely scratched the surface. He will really take off next season as the #1C and should add more 5x5 scoring to his already lethal production on the POs.
Would like to see more explosion in his skating, still, even as he did improve his skating over the course of this past season. Would like to see better reads defensively, but again, that longer runway. So, if you add all that up—that he's not yet as close to a finished product as Misa or the plateau level of the older guys, Martone or Hagens—then you have to consider the projection trajectory for O'Brien. His ceiling may be higher than anyone except maybe Misa up front.
Frondell just does not have the speed or the puck-carrying ability required that the Hawks need. He just failed miserably at U18s. Canada then stymied him easily. Just not impressed at all by him.
Brady Martin is the unique standout of this draft in several categories that the Hawks lack too: Uber-competitiveness, uber-physicality, and the best hitter in the draft. Viewing scout reports and highlights from the OHL, he has a terrific pro shot, can pick corners, and has a wicked hard one-timer.
Creates tons of scoring chances off the forecheck and offensive zone battles, then rushes. Can power through and past checks with speed and strength. Will only get stronger. Good 200-ft player. Can take it to the net. Can play C.
Maybe not an elite passer, but decent. He did not have much talent help in the Soo (a team that finished 14th out of 20 OHL teams in league standings). The question, given this context, is how many more goals and assists would he have had if he played on the top line in Moncton (top team in the Q), or if he played on the top line with Lardis in Brantford? Or if he played on the top line in London? Or even played with just a decent team with more help like Martone had in Brampton or Misa had in Saginaw?
You have to ask the "what if" question for Brady Martin, given he was pretty much all alone and the best player on such a bottom-level OHL team.
I do not know if he has a higher ceiling from more development, but the level he already plays at for compete, work ethic, and physicality is off the charts. Coupled with his pro shot and at least average passing skill, plus 200-ft 2-way play, the level he plays at screams NHL pro. You want this guy in your top six forwards if for no other reason than the work example he will set for the other five—insuring them, teaching them to want it more. He also will act as a deterrent if the opposition wishes to take liberties on our smaller skilled forwards like Bedard and Nazar.
This is why Martin ought to be considered for the #3 spot.
He can't be a "bad fit." He will be a great fit for any team taking him.
In my books, forget the rankings.
The Hawks do not need Hagens to add to the shrimp list. The Hawks do not need the slow pace of Martone or the slow skating of Frondell.
So it comes down to, for me, either trade up to land Misa or add one of three different types of centers: the 6'2" Desnoyers, the 6'0" Martin who already plays a bigger man’s game, or bet on the upside yet to come from Jake O'Brien, who gets an even bigger role next season in Brantford as their 1C.
These are the three best fits for the Hawks after Misa. But look, even Misa has some concerns. That -16 he posted in his final 10 GP is an issue to me. Did he burn out? Get banged up and play through an injury? If not, then even Misa has some risks.
If KD still has Hagens, Frondell, or Martone higher on his "list," he needs to ask himself: what does Hagens or Frondell bring to the Hawks' needs exactly? If this is just a fuzzy "talent" opinion, then he must fire his scouts, because I just do not buy it. Nobody is even close to Martin in physicality or relentless work ethic. Those are talents too.
The skating, vision, and defensive prowess of Desnoyers are all talent and skill too, but less flawed than Hagens or Martone in certain aspects of concern. O'Brien has elite passing/playmaking skill, but he’s not fully developed physically or in certain aspects. He has time and runway to get better in those areas. You bet on further upside.
The long bus ride, differing timelines and levels of development, differing questions of whether a player is plateaued or much more is coming, differing circumstances—played in privileged situations versus played on a poor team or in a secondary role but will be in a top-line role next season—all these differences (body size and type, style of play, skating, starts, power, and all of these differing aspects) have to be considered.
This is not some consensus or easy ranking after Misa goes off the board.
Hagens underachieved given his hype and his privileged situation at BC.
Martone...overachieved given his poor situation on a bad team. He only got better as the season went on. Kept rising. Shone at U18s. Is going to make a huge impact in 5x5. If he gets better with more PP talent to play with, then you get something terrific.
Defense to offense—the way Desnoyers plays—just add weight and more strength to his lanky 6'2" frame.
O'Brien...again, needs to add bulk to his 6'2" frame, add a bit more explosion to his skating, and get a bit better in defensive zone reads. But given his relative youth, you expect him to take off into the stratosphere next season in Brantford. Certainly not NHL-ready. Has not yet reached his junior ceiling.
I am not sure Hagens or Martone get any better. They are old for this draft (2006 birthdates), and while their production may be higher this season in college or junior respectively, I do not see where they add much more talent than their level already.
Desnoyers and O'Brien, I do see getting to a higher level. Martin will get better merely playing with better talent. When he got that chance at the OHL Top Prospects Challenge or at the W-U18s, he shone and greatly impacted games when all the scouts' eyes were on him in those heightened levels of competition.
