With six picks over the weekend at 2026 National Hockey League Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t wow too many people, but they didn’t seem to be the bottom dwellers when it came to drafting quality prospects. Here then is a handful of reactions from various outlets as to what was good about the Flyers drafting this year, and what wasn’t.
ESPN
The Flyers selected three defensemen, two goaltenders, and a center. And while ESPN said the team should be praised for being able to trade down and acquire some more assets including Brek Liske, they didn’t really move the needle too much. The site also lauded the choice of Max Laatikainen in the seventh round as the young defender has a lot of potential. “At the end of the day, you need to draft high-end talent to compete,” the site wrote after the draft. “The Flyers passing on upside for players who fit the style their coach wants to play is risky business and certainly costs them some grading points.”
Grade: C+
The Athletic
The Athletic were similar in their grading to ESPN, although not quite as kind. The outlet believes that of the six selected, there will be “one regular” that comes from this year’s class of Flyers picks. They described Maksim Sokolovskii as a “big, toolsy defenseman” who, while lacking much in the way of offense, “moves incredibly well for his size and plays very hard.” Also mentioned were Liske and goaltender Martin Psholavec who could have a decent shot to make it to the National Hockey League.
In addition, the site also graded each team’s first-round draft pick, stating Sokolovskii is “a strong, mobile player who’s very physical and projects to make a ton of stops.” While mentioning that the defensemen was better in his “puck play” the longer his junior season went on, the prospect’s future seems to hang on whether “he can make basic outlets and retrievals because if so, an NHL coach will play him a lot.” Additional thoughts mentioned his lack of offense but said if he continues to develop, it’s a possibility he evolves into a top-four blueliner.
Grade: C
First-round Draft Grade: C+
Elite Prospects
One of the better sites when it comes to prospects and evaluating them, Elite Prospects praised the Flyers for adding two goaltenders to their pipeline. As well as adding players that will be difficult and tougher to play against. The choice of Sokolovskii was considered a good pick with “a large enough skill foundation” to complement his profile.” Comparing him to Nikita Zadorov, the outlet felt with more time in the Ontario Hockey League, he should develop more into a dependable blueliner.
While citing Liske as having a decent toolbox and a “clever defender and puck-mover,” they believe he needs to enhance those assets to get to the big leagues. And fifth-round pick KJ Sauer brings some physicality that could make him a fine depth piece to Philadelphia’s puzzle down the road. Finally, the selection of Martin Psohlavec was questioned somewhat as while praising his positional play, they weren’t sold on his “reads of the play and technical ability” which should’ve made him a late-round pick. “
Grade: C+
Sporting News
The Sporting News was short and to the point in grading each selection in the first round, and they weren’t exactly sold on Sokolovskii overall. “It does fill a need for the Philadelphia Flyers, as they need size on their blueline, but Sokolovskii is a project and is like five years away from becoming an NHL player,” the site wrote.
Grade: C-
The Score
The Score believed Sokolovskii to scream Philadelphia Flyer given his size, height, and his mean streak, adding it was “fine value” for a late first-round selection. While mentioning the comparison to Zadorov, the site noted that Zadorov “posted three times the draft-year production” in the Ontario Hockey League that the Flyers first-round prospect was able to generate.
In addition, Psohlavec “was great in the Czech junior league and as Czechia’s starter at the Under-18s.” And Laatikainen was mentioned but nothing outside of the ordinary.
Grade: C
Daily Faceoff
The Daily Faceoff weren’t keen on Sokolovskii despite his size and his ability to shut plays down. The biggest knock the outlet had against him was his play with the puck. They also believed Liske to suffer from the same drawbacks, and didn’t have the upside of Sokolovskii’s size to compensate for it.
What did they like? Well, the two goaltending selections in Psohlavec and Marek Sklenicka, but were not quite sure if either was capable of being a National Hockey League goaltender. Their rather damning conclusion read as follows: “I wish they had tried to land someone with a bit of skill or speed.”
Grade: C+
