theathleticuk
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
Armed with only four picks heading into the NHL draft, it was never going to be simple for the Philadelphia Flyers to secure more talent for their pipeline.
A surprising Stanley Cup playoff berth this past season, coupled with a draft field that was generally viewed as below average, ensured that not even the Flyers first-round pick was going to produce a true blue-chip prospect.
Advertisement Still, the two-day event felt underwhelming.
Reviews were mixed regarding first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii Scott Wheeler of The Athletic labeled the Flyers as one of the losers in the first round and none of the Flyers other five selections can be considered a sure thing to ever make the NHL club.
With their first of two second-round picks, the Flyers selected defenseman Brek Liske, a solid two-way junior, although he lacks a clear identity for the NHL, according to Corey Pronman.
A pair of goalies followed, including Martin Psohlavec in the second round (No.
62) and fellow Czech-native Marek Sklenicka in the fourth round (No.
120).
The Flyers hadnt drafted a goalie since 2023, so bolstering that position made sense, but projecting goalies is often a fools errand.
Thats something that was reinforced this past season, as both Carson Bjarnason (second round, 2023) and Egor Zavragin (third round, 2023) experienced some hiccups with the AHL Phantoms and in the KHL, respectively.
In other words, the Flyers 2026 draft class may have as much of a chance as ending up a complete wash as it has of producing an eventual NHL contributor.
To be fair, we wont know whether thats the case for at least three years, in all likelihood.
Its silly to be overly pessimistic just a few hours after the conclusion of the draft.
It was only a year ago, after all, when some fans were apoplectic that the Flyers selected winger Porter Martone rather than James Hagens, considering how badly the club needed a potential high-end center.
No one is second-guessing that decision now.
Further, even if no one in the 2026 draft class truly pans out, will it even matter? Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said previously that the club was looking primarily at the 2023, 2024 and 2025 drafts as their prime opportunities to restock the system.
They are already seeing that strategy pay off, with players such as Martone, Matvei Michkov and Denver Barkey on the NHL roster, and others now knocking on the door.
Advertisement Training camp in September is shaping up to be the most competitive since Briere took over.
Some legitimately good young players could end up starting the season in the AHL.
The Flyers dont lack future picks, either.
Its likely theyll end up with the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick in 2027, which could very well end up in the top 10 or higher, in addition to their own.
They have 10 picks total next year, including an extra pick in the third round.
The Flyers could trade some of those picks for players that could help now (cough, Zach Werenski), and still be in decent shape this time next year.
Flyers assistant general manager and draft overseer Brent Flahr acknowledged that because the Flyers have taken so many players in the past three drafts, and with potentially more to come next year, it did influence their approach this year, including trading back in the first round to procure two additional picks from the San Jose Sharks.
The Flyers were more willing to take a chance on players with a wide range of outcomes, such as Sokolovskii and the two goalies.
Part of it is that, and part of it (was) our draft board early on was (cleaned out), Flahr said.
Of course, Flahr and the Flyers scouting staff did offer some hope for the six players they ended up selecting.
Regarding Sokolovskii, Flahr said: Obviously, hes a huge player.
Theres other parts of his game that were well aware of where he has to get to, improvements hes going to have to make.
For me and our staff the research weve done, his level of improvement from the start of the year to the end was incredible.
When you get a player that is that type of athlete and that type of tools watching him in the playoffs go head to head with Brady Martin and those guys, it was a war, and he was effective.
Were banking it on being the tip of the iceberg with him.
Advertisement Liske who grew up in a family of diehard Flyers fans is another player that the Flyers believe took some notable steps throughout his season with Everett, the WHL champions.
He did a heck of a job down the stretch and in the playoffs.
He really showed what he can do, Flahr said.
He can defend.
Hes going to have to get stronger.
I think were banking on another level of his offense to come as well, as his confidence grows.
Mark Greig, a Flyers amateur scout, said: He has nice size, and he has some maturation and growth to come.
..
We like the two-way game and the trend he finished the season with.
Liske, whose favorite player growing up was Claude Giroux, was pleased with the way his junior season went, particularly in the latter half and in the playoffs.
Id say it was kind of a confidence thing.
I think I realized more of who I was, and what I could do, he said.
And what would Liske like to improve? I want to become a little more quick.
I think I could get my foot speed up.
Just play a little faster in everything, he said.
The Flyers selected 6-3 center KJ Sauer out of Andover High School in Minnesota with their fifth-round pick a sizable center that can really skate, according to Flyers scout Shane Fukushima and 5-11 defenseman Max Laatikainen, the youngest player in the draft and a player who was injured for most of last season, in the seventh round.
Its likely not a draft class that is going to dramatically alter the Flyers path over the next few seasons and beyond.
But if one or two of the prospects can find a way to help at some point, that alone would probably be considered a win.