The Philadelphia Flyers traded down from 21 to 27 to take London Knights defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii, a 6'7
Flyers Draft Towering Defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii at 27th After Trading Down for Future Picks.
Key Points
The Flyers moved down from No. 21 to No. 27 in the first round and acquired No. 62 (second round) and No. 120 (fourth round), while retaining a late first-round pick, in the deal with San Jose.
Maksim Sokolovskii is a 17-year-old Kazakhstani defenseman listed at 6'7\" and 240 pounds, playing for the London Knights (Ontario Hockey League).
He is not expected to reach the NHL immediately and is slated to return to the Knights next season, with a college commitment to the University of Maine; Flyers emphasized his month‑to‑month progression throughout the season.
Elite Prospects ranks him No. 22 in the draft class and praises his exceptional skating and defensive range, while noting his puck-handling/puck skills are more average for his size.
Some observers questioned the Flyers' decision to pass on flashier prospects, with speculation linking them to players like Jack Hextall, Ryan Lin, Tommy Bleyl, and Xavier Villeneuve instead of Sokolovskii.
The Philadelphia Flyers made a big bet on size Friday night, selecting 6-foot-7, 240-pound defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. To get there, they first traded down from No. 21, dealing the pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for picks No. 62 and No. 120 — gaining extra draft capital while still landing the player they wanted. Philly Sports Reports
Sokolovskii, 17, played this past season for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League, posting 8 points in 44 games — modest offensive numbers, but that was never the point. General Manager Danny Brière called him "the next guy on our list" and said moving back six spots made sense once it was clear he would still be available. Broad Street Hockey via Philly Voice
Flyers Trade Down Six Spots, Still Get Their Guy
At No. 21, the Flyers paused. Instead of picking, they called San Jose and struck a deal. The Sharks moved up to grab defenseman Ryan Lin — under 6 feet tall, 57 points in 53 games last season. The Flyers slid back six spots and collected two extra picks. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Brière and assistant GM Brent Flahr had signaled before the draft they would consider trading down if the right offer came.
Brière explained the logic clearly after the pick. "There were a few tiers in front of us that got wiped out pretty quickly," he said. "We felt that Sokolovskii was the guy we could move back and still get." By standard draft trade charts, the Flyers gave up a pick worth roughly 700 points and got back a combined value of about 735 points. Philly Voice
Who Is Sokolovskii — and Why Did Philly Fall For Him
Born in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, Sokolovskii grew up playing in the Russian youth system before moving to Massachusetts. He joined the London Knights last August after being selected 119th in the CHL Import Draft. At 6-foot-7.25 and 240 pounds, he towers over most junior players. But scouts say what stands out is how well he moves for that size. Elite Prospects ranked him No. 22 in the draft class and praised his "exceptional four-way mobility."
Brent Flahr pointed to Sokolovskii's "month-to-month" improvement during the season as a key factor. The Flyers watched him get better at each stage. He also has a mean streak — Metro Philadelphia noted scouts flagged his physical edge, including a fight early in one game that he "very quickly won." He racked up 49 penalty minutes in 44 games. His comparison: a more mobile Jamie Oleksiak, built for gap control and defensive range.
The Boom-or-Bust Debate Dividing Scouts and Analysts
Not everyone is sold. The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the pick a mixed draft grade, calling Sokolovskii a "boom-or-bust" prospect. Public ranking services were all over the map. Elite Prospects had him at No. 22. HPR/Malloy ranked him as low as No. 83. TSN and Sportsnet both viewed him closer to a second-round pick. The Flyers' internal board disagreed — they saw a Tier 2 prospect they were lucky to get at 27.
Some analysts questioned passing on "flashier" options. Names like Jack Hextall, Ryan Lin, Tommy Bleyl, and Xavier Villeneuve came up as alternatives. Critics argue that without better puck-handling, Sokolovskii's ceiling could be a depth defenseman or career AHL player. Supporters counter that his skating and size alone give him a rare physical floor — and the London Knights have developed players like this before. Nikita Zadorov, a similarly massive blueliner, came through the same program.
Development Road Is Long — and the Flyers Planned For It
Sokolovskii will not play in the NHL anytime soon. He heads back to London for the 2026-27 OHL season, where he is expected to take on a bigger role after several veteran blueliners graduate. After that, he is committed to the University of Maine for 2027-28. That college path gives the Flyers up to five years to retain his rights before needing to sign him. Metro Philadelphia noted that Brière sees the NCAA stop as critical for building his frame to pro conditioning standards.
The Flyers entered draft weekend with just four picks. They left Round 1 with six total selections for the weekend. Brière framed the entire move as "maximizing the board" in a draft without a clear consensus after the top 15. Sokolovskii described himself as a "big, physical" player and called it an honor to join "a historic organization like Philly." Philly Sports Reports The ceiling is real. So is the wait.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
13
Articles
6
Reach
19
