The 2026 NHL draft is over now, and everyone can prep for the free agency frenzy starting up next week. For now, we can look at the haul of picks that came in for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Thanks to some last-minute moves this week, Flyers GM Daniel Briere brought the Flyers six draft picks instead of just the four they came into the draft season with. How did he do with those picks? It's going to be far too early to tell. We won't be able to tell until a few years from now, when we can see how these prospects are panning out. So, let's take a look and examine how they are based on what it appears they can be and the promise each pick holds.
First Round --- #27 --- Maksim Sokolovskii
Following last year's trend of "bigger is better", Briere and company doubled down on that during this year's draft with the selection of big, burly defender Sokolovskii. He is a 6'7", 240 lbs. behemoth that will hopefully remind us of Zdeno Chara. You want a scoring defender? This is not your guy. You want a fast defender? It's not him.
However, he brings a reach that would rival Jaccob Slavin. He brings a physicality that should, hopefully, make opponents shudder. He is an 18-year-old work in progress. That's ok. He's with the London Knights of the OHL. This is the same junior team that has helped turn out Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey.
Patience with this one. If they can teach him how to move a little better, especially considering his size, it will be well worth it. This has all the markings of a big hit. However, if he can't learn to skate faster, this could be a big bust. Still, I see the potential in this one. He could be a Chris Pronger at best, but most likely a Luke Richardson/Chris Therien kind of guy. I'll take that.--- Grade A-
Second Round --- #53 --- Brek Liske
You want a scoring defender? This is your guy. Liske, playing for the Everett Silvertips, scored seven goals and had 17 assists for the WHL champions. Best of all, Liske is a lifelong Flyers fan. If that isn't a feel-good story, I don't know what is.
He is smaller than Sokolovskii, but then again, so was everyone else. Skill-wise, he's probably more polished than Sokolovskii, but because of his youth, he still has room to grow. He is good on the offensive transition. but still needs to work on battling in the corner and defending in front of the net. In both, he should be able to grow and excel. It would not be surprising to see him in Philly in another season or two.--- Grade B+
Second Round --- #60 --- Martin Psohlavec
Psohlavec is the first of two back-to-back goalies the Flyers selected in this year's draft. He is big and has played well for the Czech under-20 national team in international play. He appears to have good side-to-side skills and can cover a lot of ground quickly. He's raw, as most young goalies are, but seems ot be a solid pick at this level. --- Grade B.
Fourth Round --- #120 --- Marek Sklenicka
Sklenicka is the second Czech goalie selected by the Flyers. He has played with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, had a 3.21 GAA and a .902 save percentage with three shutouts. Like his countryman, he is raw, which is natural for a 17-year-old. However, he is also playing in the Canadian juniors while Psohlavec is still in Czechia. Still, for a fourth-rounder, you probably can't find a better goalie. --- Grade B.
Fifth Round --- #136 --- Kent Sauer
Sauer is a six-foot high school senior at Andover. He is a big, nasty kid who loves to use his weight to move opponents off the puck. He projects as a bottom-six center. Sauer is a young, aggressive center who, as of right now, projects as a bottom-six center. Most guys at this level aren't expected to do much, but then again, Noah Cates was a fifth-rounder. Given time, he could be a contributor. --- Grade C+.
Seventh Round --- #213 --- Max Laatikainen
The 17-year-old Finnish defender has played in just six games in the Finnish junior league, recording two assists. Laatikainen is the third defender taken in this draft. With his youth, he has a lot to learn. Scouting reports say that he has a very high hockey IQ and good speed to match. He's 5'11" and a lightweight at 173 lbs. But if you put some muscle on him and give him a chance to hone his skills, he could be a steal in the seventh round. He might be a fun one to revisit in three years to see how far he has come. --- Grade C+
Overall, this is a class with a lot of potential. How much potential is yet to be seen. For Sokolovskii, the biggest thing is whether he can pick up his pace. A slow, sluggish defender is of no use to anyone. If he can quicken up a bit, he can be a roving beast. It's the very definition of a boom or bust pick. Likewise, I'd predict that Liske might be the first of this class to make it to the NHL because his skill set is a bit more refined and closer to the pro level. I can see him and Sokolovskii being a defensive duo that could be around for years.
As for the goalies, we'll see. Young goaltending prospects are great one season, bottom out the next, and then rebound...kind of like NHL goalies. The important thing is that the Flyers have added two more guys with potential to the crop of prospects. With any luck, these guys will pan out, and we'll have some decently solid goaltending for the next decade.
With the bottom two picks, any contribution you can get from a post-fourth round selection is a bonus. If they become a roster regular, even better, and it'll make the Flyers scouts look like geniuses. All anyone needs is a chance to prove themselves. This draft looks like a solid complement to last year's class. The future looks as if it is staying bright for the Philadelphia Flyers.
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