Flyers take Brek Liske at 53 in second round of 2026 draft
The Philadelphia Flyers opened Day 2 of the 2026 NHL draft by selecting Brek Liske, a 6-foot-1 defenseman from the WHL's Everett Silvertips, 53rd overall—the first of their two second-round picks. They later took goaltender Martin Psohlavec at No. 62, continuing a defensive push that began Friday with Maksim Sokolovskii at 27th overall.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — After trading back in Round 1 to land the towering Sokolovskii, general manager Danny Brière's club used its extra second-rounder to address the blue line again before turning to netminding depth. Liske posted 24 points and a plus-36 rating in 52 WHL games as an 18-year-old, profiles that aligned with scouting lists from EliteProspects.com, TSN's Craig Button, and Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis.
Key Takeaways
- Philadelphia took Brek Liske at No. 53 and Martin Psohlavec at No. 62 in Round 2 on Saturday.
- Liske is a blueliner from Everett; Sokolovskii, drafted Friday, is a 6-foot-7 London Knights defenseman.
- The Flyers traded from No. 21 to No. 27 on Day 1, adding picks that gave them two second-rounders.
- Sokolovskii grades as a long-term project with size, skating, and physicality, per team and media reports.
- Philly's pipeline now has fresh defense and goalie prospects alongside NHL veterans on the left side.
Why did the Flyers double down on defense in Round 2?
Friday's trade with San Jose moved Philadelphia from 21st to 27th overall while netting the 62nd and 120th selections, giving the Flyers picks Nos. 53 and 62 in the second round. NBC Sports Philadelphia reported the organization opened Day 2 with another defenseman after grabbing Sokolovskii, signaling a clear priority on rebuilding depth behind Travis Sanheim, Cam York, and Simon Benoît.
The Inquirer graded the Sokolovskii pick a B, noting organizational need on the left side beyond Ty Murchison, Jackson Edward, and Hunter McDonald in the system. Adding Liske supplies another defensive prospect to complement London products Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, and Luke Vlooswyk.
Who is Brek Liske and what does he bring?
Liske stands 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds and spent 2025-26 with Everett in the Western Hockey League. He finished with seven goals and 17 assists across 52 games, pairing strong two-way results with a plus-36 rating that underscored steady defensive play at even strength.
Pre-draft rankings had him 45th on EliteProspects.com, 54th on Button's list, and 67th on Ellis's top 120. NBC Sports Philadelphia noted his family ties to the franchise—his father drives an orange Jeep with a Flyers logo—adding a human angle to a pick that landed near consensus territory.
What does Martin Psohlavec mean for Philly's draft board?
With their second Round 2 selection at No. 62, the Flyers chose goaltender Martin Psohlavec. That move diversified a day that began with Liske and followed a first round devoted to Sokolovskii, the Kazakh giant who stands 6-foot-7¼ and 240 pounds.
Readers tracking prospect pipelines alongside broader sports headlines can also browse our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section for fast-moving crossover coverage. Psohlavec's selection rounds out a busy weekend for Brière after Philadelphia added multiple prospects across the first two rounds.
How does Maksim Sokolovskii fit the Flyers' long-term plan?
NHL.com's prospect profile describes Sokolovskii as an above-average skater despite his frame, with imposing physicality and strong board work that improved as his rookie OHL season progressed. He logged 44 regular-season games with London (two goals, six assists) and drew tough playoff matchups, including head-to-head duty against 2025 fifth overall pick Brady Martin.
Brière told reporters the Flyers moved back because they believed Sokolovskii could still be available, adding they hope he can reach top-four pairing level in the NHL. The defenseman will return to the Knights in 2026-27 before joining Maine in 2027-28, giving Philadelphia time to develop his puck-moving and shot mechanics without rushing him to the NHL.