Report: Bruins Interested in Former Flyers Prospect Jay O’Brien?

Former Philadelphia Flyers first-round draft pick Jay O’Brien reportedly might be attracting interest from his hometown Boston Bruins.

O’Brien, 23, played three seasons at Boston University and is a Hingham, Mass., native. The Flyers drafted O’Brien with the 19th overall pick in 2018 draft.

Boston Hockey Now reported that the Bruins might have selected O’Brien at No. 30 in 2018, had he been available.

“They liked him a lot,” an NHL amateur scout told Boston Hockey Now on Sunday. “Obviously, easy to say now, but I think a lot of people were stunned he wasn’t there when the Bruins picked, or even early in the second round.”

O’Brien, a forward, was selected five picks after the Flyers drafted Joel Farabee. When O’Brien was chosen, he was the 32nd-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

The Flyers chose not to sign O’Brien after he completed his fourth NCAA season earlier this year. The Flyers will receive a second-round pick as compensation in the 2024 draft.

AHL Player?

O’Brien played three seasons at Boston University, after playing his freshman season at Providence. The Terriers advanced to the Frozen Four this past season. O’Brien played 39 games and scored eight goals and 24 assists (32 points).

In 104 college games, O’Brien scored 28 goals and 47 assists (65 points).

Another scout wasn’t all that excited about O’Brien.

“Just an average player for me,” the second scout told Boston Hockey Now on Sunday. “Not skilled enough for me to drive the skill bus and not heavy enough or big/strong enough to be the fourth-line type I’d like to have.”

The second scout suggested that O’Brien could play in the NHL “but right now is an AHL player to me.”

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