Full Breakdown
Day Two of the 2026 NHL Draft: Teams Build Pipelines with Size, Skill, and Development Focus
6/28/2026, 2:53:10 AM
Core Selections and Team Strategies
Day two of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, held at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, produced 28 new prospects for four clubs. The Philadelphia Flyers completed a six-player haul, selecting defensemen Maksim Sokolovskii (27th overall) and Brek Liske (53rd), goaltenders Martin Psohlavec (62nd) and Marek Sklenicka (120th), forward KJ Sauer (136th) and defenseman Max Laatikainen (213th). The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the third round with Alessandro Di Iorio (94th) and added winger Evan Jardine (121st) and goalie Parker Snell (142nd), later selecting European forwards Anttoni Uronen, Filip Novák, and undersized defenseman Jonas Woo (185th). Vancouver’s seven day-two picks emphasized size, beginning with 6-foot-7-inch forward Brooks Rogowski (33rd) and including 6-foot-5-inch defenseman Samuel Eriksson (186th). The Nashville Predators, after first-round picks Wyatt Cullen (10th) and Tommy Bleyl (31st), added eight more prospects ranging from the third-round 70th pick to the seventh-round 202nd pick.
Data & Statistics
- Flyers: 6 selections (1 first-round, 5 day-two); Sokolovskii posted 2 G, 6 A, +10 rating with the London Knights.
- Blue Jackets: 9 selections; Di Iorio recorded 27-34-61 in 53 OHL games; Snell posted a 2.74 GAA, sixth-best in the WHL.
- Canucks: 7 selections; Rogowski tallied 15 G, 27 A in 46 OHL games; Ivchenko posted .922 SV% in 19 MHL games.
- Predators: 10 selections; Cullen logged 45 P (16 G, 29 A) with the USNTDP; Bleyl set a QMJHL rookie record with 81 P (13 G, 68 A).
Official Statements & Responses
Flyers GM Daniel Brière praised Sokolovskii’s “progression … every month he just kept getting better.” Scouts Mark Greig and Ryan Cyr highlighted Liske’s two-way game and Psohlavec’s athleticism, while VP Brent Flahr noted Sklenicka’s “high ceiling.” Blue Jackets assistant director Trevor Timmins described Jonas Woo as possessing “tenacity and the speed element” despite his 5-foot-9 frame. Director of Amateur Scouting Ville Siren emphasized the value of European experience in picks such as Uronen and Novák. Canucks director Todd Harvey joked, “Well, we got bigger,” referring to the size-focused roster, and praised Rogowski’s “small-thing” work ethic. Predators GM Chris MacFarland called Cullen “good skill, good skater,” and praised Bleyl’s “dynamic offensive component from the back end.”
Criticism & Concerns
Size-related risk was a recurring theme. The Flyers noted that the 2025 first round featured no defensemen under six feet, prompting caution about undersized prospects. The Blue Jackets’ selection of 5-foot-9 Woo was described as a “gamble,” with Timmins noting the need for physical development. Vancouver’s emphasis on larger bodies reflects a strategic response to perceived gaps in size across the draft class.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The one thing that really stood out was the progression that he showed throughout the season. We saw him early in the season; we thought, 'this could be a late pick for us,' and then it seemed every month he just kept getting better and figuring out the game more,” — Daniel Brière, Flyers GM
- “He's very athletic for a goalie of his size, with really good feet, and we just feel the upside that he has is very high, and he has a high ceiling.” — Ryan Cyr, Flyers Goaltender Scout
- “Well, we got bigger,” — Todd Harvey, Canucks Director of Amateur Scouting
- “To get a guy like Wyatt Cullen… He’s got good skill, and he’s a good skater, which I think is something that excites me,” — Chris MacFarland, Predators GM
- “He's got that tenacity and the speed element, as well as the skill and competitiveness that gives him a chance to play as an undersized D-man,” — Trevor Timmins, Blue Jackets Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting
Why It Matters
Day-two selections shape each franchise’s depth chart for the next five years, balancing immediate junior-level impact with long-term development. The league-wide tilt toward larger, physically dominant players coexists with calculated gambles on undersized, high-upside talent.
What’s Next
All drafted prospects will report to their clubs’ development camps in early July. The Flyers, Blue Jackets, Canucks, and Predators will evaluate the newcomers alongside existing prospects to determine assignments to junior, collegiate, or minor-league affiliates for the 2026-27 season.
