Philadelphia Flyers select Maksim Sokolovskii with 27th pick at 2026 NHL Draft following trade
After moving down six picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick.
The Flyers were originally set to pick with the 21st overall pick but executed a last-minute trade with the San Jose Sharks, who drafted defenseman Ryan Lin.
In return for moving back, the Flyers received the 27th overall pick, the 62nd overall pick, and the 120th overall pick from San Jose, according to SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Sokolovskii is a young, big-bodied, left-handed defenseman standing at 6’7″ and 238 lbs with high upside.
Last season, Sokolovskii played for the OHL’s London Knights, where he registered two goals, six assists, and eight points over 44 regular season games.
While the offensive numbers were lacking with the Knights, it can be primarily attributed to his poor puck-moving abilities, something modern NHL coaches desire.
On the other side, Sokolovskii uses all of his massive frame to terrorize the opposition, laying hits, getting in the dirty areas, and pinning players against the boards.
Despite the upside, Sokolovskii is still a risky draft pick due primarily to his underdeveloped hockey IQ.
However, he is only 17 years old and made a large jump from AAA hockey to the OHL and still has another jump to make.
Sokolovskii has committed to play hockey at the University of Maine for the 2027-28 season after playing one more season for the Knights.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Philadelphia Flyers select Maksim Sokolovskii with 27th pick at 2026 NHL Draft following trade
