A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Three Unsigned NCAA Free Agents To Target

By Ken MacMillan

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 7: Robert Mastrosimone #16 of the Boston University Terriers skates during the second period against the Harvard Crimson during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 7, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 4-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 7: Robert Mastrosimone #16 of the Boston University Terriers skates during the second period against the Harvard Crimson during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 7, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 4-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Jay O’Brien. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Jay O’Brien. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Jay O’Brien

Though it was a bit of a surprise at the time, Jay O’Brien was a first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018. He had completely overwhelmed his competition the previous season but was playing high school hockey at Thayer Academy so he was not facing the same level of competition as most first round picks.

O’Brien went to Providence the following season and scored five points in 25 games. He then left college to play a season of Junior hockey in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees and put up 25 goals and 66 points in 46 games.

He then transferred from Providence to Boston University where he played the past three seasons. He put the dreadful five point freshman season behind him quickly and scored 16 points in 16 games during his first season with the Terriers. That was an odd Covid year where there was not a full schedule played but he did score a point per game.

In 2021-22 he had ten goals and 22 points in 24 games with Boston University and last season he scored 32 points in 39 games which ranked third on the team in scoring. While he struggled in his first college season, he was deemed a late bloomer the moment he was drafted to the NHL and he did bloom in his final three years of college hockey, scoring 70 points in 79 games over those three years.

O’Brien would have been a teammate of Luke Tuch for the past three years and they were joined by Lane Hutson last season. Could he be enticed to join the same NHL organization as Hutson and Tuch? If so, he would add an intriguing center piece to the Laval Rocket that is still 23 years old.

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