Senators Sign 2007 First-Round Pick Jim O'Brien

[Thrillhouse]

OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today that the club has signed centre Jim O’Brien to an entry-level contract. He will be at the Senators training camp, starting on Sept. 13.

O’Brien, who recently attended the Senators’ development camp in late June and early July, was the club’s first pick, 29th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio. He was still recovering from April 30 surgery to fix an injury to his left shoulder and was unable to take part in any on-ice sessions during the camp.

In his freshman year with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2006-07, the 18-year-old was the youngest player in all of Division I college hockey. After scoring seven goals and adding eight assists in 43 games with the Golden Gophers, O’Brien then added seven points (three goals and four assists) in seven games as the United States captured the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April. Team USA lost 6-5 in the final to Team Russia.

Minnesota took the 2006-07 WCHA regular-season conference title with 18 wins, seven losses and three ties. After defeating the North Dakota Fighting Sioux 3-2 for the WCHA Broadmoor Trophy Championship on March 17, Minnesota would eventually go on to lose 3-2 in overtime to the Fighting Sioux in the NCAA West regional final on March 25.

Prior to joining the Golden Gophers, O’Brien spent two seasons with the U.S. national team development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 2005-06, he recorded 17 goals, 24 assists and 76 penalty minutes in 51 games with the under-18 squad. O’Brien had three goals and one assists in six games as Team USA beat Finland 3-1 for the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. In 2004-05, O’Brien suited up with the under-17 team, posting 34 points (16-18) and 51 penalty minutes in 54 games.

[JKidd]

Great... a kid I was looking to have a breakout year at the U this upcoming year - is gone. He's still a few years away from being NHL ready, so him leaving school is pretty stupid - IMO.

[Yoke]

Not a good idea on his part, but the decision is made. I don't think he's ready either.

Gophers are running out of D.

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Great... a kid I was looking to have a breakout year at the U this upcoming year - is gone. He's still a few years away from being NHL ready, so him leaving school is pretty stupid - IMO.

You're right - he isn't NHL ready - and that's why he is going to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL this season. He isn't going to play for the Senators yet.

So, I think this was a smart move actually. Yeah, he was projected to light it up in college, but that doesn't really matter, because he will attend the Senators training camp this offseason, and then go play in the WHL right after that, which will prepare him even more for the NHL than college hockey would - in my opinion. So he will be working hard throughout the rest of the offseason, as well as during the 07-08 hockey season. After a couple years of playing junior hockey, and then maybe a year or two in the AHL, this kid should be ready for the pros, so I like the road that he's taking. With this plan, he should be on the Senators team in no more than 4 or 5 years. I think he will be a good player too.

[rondo]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

You're right - he isn't NHL ready - and that's why he is going to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL this season. He isn't going to play for the Senators yet.

So, I think this was a smart move actually. Yeah, he was projected to light it up in college, but that doesn't really matter, because he will attend the Senators training camp this offseason, and then go play in the WHL right after that, which will prepare him even more for the NHL than college hockey would - in my opinion. So he will be working hard throughout the rest of the offseason, as well as during the 07-08 hockey season. After a couple years of playing junior hockey, and then maybe a year or two in the AHL, this kid should be ready for the pros, so I like the road that he's taking. With this plan, he should be on the Senators team in no more than 4 or 5 years. I think he will be a good player too.

You are right in most accounts here. However, I disagree in the time frame. Especially under the new CBA. Ottawa and all other teams who select kids in the first round are projecting that player to be on team in 2-3 years max IMO. Not the 4-5 years you predict. Nhl teams are tking more and more college kids after one or two season beacause they can became RFA at the age of 25 now and this ultimately speeds up the process. If a player thakes five years to get ot the big club they could become RFA in two years.

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by rondo

You are right in most accounts here. However, I disagree in the time frame. Especially under the new CBA. Ottawa and all other teams who select kids in the first round are projecting that player to be on team in 2-3 years max IMO. Not the 4-5 years you predict. Nhl teams are tking more and more college kids after one or two season beacause they can became RFA at the age of 25 now and this ultimately speeds up the process. If a player thakes five years to get ot the big club they could become RFA in two years.

Right, but I do believe I said in no more than 4-5 years (in case it takes a while for him to develop)... which probably means only around 3 years, if everything goes as planned - like you said. But no biggy.

[Yoke]

What position is he going to be playing?

I wonder if the position change is part of the reason he left.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by Yoke

What position is he going to be playing?

I wonder if the position change is part of the reason he left.

He'll be playing forward I believe.