Kraken’s Jake O’Brien Out Day-To-Day With Injury

The Seattle Kraken have announced that center prospect Jake O’Brien is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It is the same injury that held O’Brien out of game action during Seattle’s rookie camp, and his absence is considered precautionary, head coach Lane Lambert told Kraken broadcaster Mike Benton.

This news will likely keep O’Brien from appearing in another game during the preseason. He appeared in Seattle’s opening game against the Vancouver Canucks and recorded one goal and one assist. It was a bright light on a strong training camp for O’Brien, who remained on the roster even as the Kraken trimmed down to 25 players, just two over the roster limit.

The 19-year-old centerman had a strong argument for breaking camp with the Kraken when their regular season kicks off on October 1st. While this injury will be a setback, it may not entirely derail O’Brien’s chances. Precautions now could set up the former OHL star for his best chance at making an NHL debut. His top competition for a spot will be Coachella Valley Firebirds standout Oscar Fisker Molgaard and veteran depth forwards Ben Meyers.

If he ends up on the outside, O’Brien is likely to be Seattle’s designated 19-year-old AHL skater – under a new rule that allows one 19 year old to play in the minor-leagues per team, provided that they were a former first-round pick. O’Brien was drafted eighth-overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, after scoring 98 points in 66 games with the Brantford Bulldogs. He put on an encore by scoring 93 points in 53 games – and 23 points in 15 playoff games – in a return to Brantford last season.