Bruins Solve ‘Massive Need’ In New 2025 NHL Mock Draft

The Boston Bruins probably won’t ever find an adequate replacement for Patrice Bergeron, but their efforts thus far have still been underwhelming.

Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle have been asked at different points to fill the role of two-way centerman over the last two seasons, and it just hasn’t worked. Lindholm clearly wasn’t a system fit and needed nearly a full season to get acclimated to Boston. Zacha’s effectiveness seems to be dictated by who he is playing with, where you’d be looking for the opposite out of a top-line center. Coyle… well, he got shipped off at the trade deadline.

Boston still needs someone who can be the long-term answer on the top line, and might have found one in The Athletic’s mock draft that was posted on Tuesday.

It’s better late than never, right?

The B’s ended up with center Jake O’Brien in the exercise, as the reigning OHL Rookie of the Year jumped all the way to No. 7 after a breakout performance in his second season of professional hockey.

“O’Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside,” The Athletic’s Corey Pronman wrote. “His skill and vision are clear NHL traits and address Boston’s massive need for a center who can drive play and create offense.”

O’Brien has ascended to the top of the class, not only because of his traits but because he is one of the youngest top prospects in the draft due to his birthday (June 16). The Brantford Bulldogs made him an alternate captain, and saw him score 32 goals and record 66 assists in a season where they made the second round of the playoffs.

Who would you like to see the Bruins select on June 27?