Yes, Jason Botterill’s first draft as general manager comes with an obvious mandate: restock the blue line. Yet history says the Kraken won’t reach if a difference-maker down the middle is staring them in the face. They ignored mock-draft consensus a year ago and snapped up Berkly Catton at the same No 8 slot, bolstering a forward group that already featured Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. Betting on a top-six center has worked before—why not double down if the board breaks their way?
Below are three draft-eligible centers who could give Seattle enviable depth straight up the gut for the next decade.
Jake O’Brien — Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
O’Brien just authored a 98-point explosion in Brantford, joining a short list of draft-year OHLers who have flirted with the century mark since 2010—and that list includes names like Perfetti, Rossi and, yes, McDavid. Equally impressive: 32 goals on 134 shots (23.8 percent) thanks to an ability to live in the slot rather than rely on perimeter volume.
If Seattle’s next coach opts to revive the controlled-exit, puck-possession style Dave Hakstol favored, Jake O’Brien looks tailor-made for the role. His calling card is exactly that: he shields, waits, and threads. Picture him centering Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton five years from now, dictating pace while his wingers feast on the seams he creates. The caveat is ceiling—most scouts project a high-end second-line driver rather than a true No. 1—but at 6-2 and 170 pounds, there’s still plenty of room for a late growth spurt in both frame and offensive punch.
If O’Brien is off the board, Seattle’s decision tree forks: swing on a towering power center with raw tools or grab a two-way engine whose floor feels almost NHL-ready.
Roger McQueen — Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
At 6-5, right-shot, and ranked as high as No 5 by some sccouts, McQueen is the unicorn every team covets. A wrist injury limited him to 17 games, but he still stacked 20 points—an even split of goals and assists—while bullying defenders along the wall.
The Kraken have size on the wings but lack a true middle-lane bulldozer. McQueen projects as that and more: net-front on the power play, a F1 puck-retrieval demon at even strength, and, with pro coaching, a defensive presence reminiscent of Jordan Staal. Patience will be required—he’s raw and will likely return to Brandon—but the payoff could be the franchise’s first legitimate matchup monster.
Brady Martin — Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Martin followed up a gold-medal run at the U18s by leading the Greyhounds with 72 points (33 G, 39 A) in 57 games, good for a +25 rating. His skating isn’t highlight-reel slick, yet he beats defenders with timing, spatial awareness, and a sneaky one-timer that scorched OHL goalies on the half-wall. Central Scouting’s final list placed him 17th among North American skaters, but some data-heavy models see top-10 upside once you adjust for age (he turns 18 next month) and usage.
Martin screams “Swiss Army knife.” He kills penalties, wins face-offs, and already shows pro-level habit tracking in the defensive zone. That profile dovetails with Botterill’s stated vision of building layers of responsibility beneath the flashy skill guys. Think Yanni Gourde with a touch more playmaking punch—and on a cheap ELC when Gourde’s current deal expires.
Botterill’s first swing could redefine the depth chart
Seattle’s expansion-era blueprint has been balance: a mobile blue line and wave after wave of honest, pace-driving forwards. Selecting one of these centers would keep that identity intact while future-proofing a critical position as contracts age out. Whether Botterill opts for O’Brien’s polish, McQueen’s size, or Martin’s versatility, his inaugural pick will signal how aggressively the new regime intends to chase upside at the top of the lineup.