I dont pretend to know enough to thump the table for one prospect over another, especially past the first 5-10 blue chip prospects.

But to me, Briere’s approach makes sense – and the whole “they drafted him just cos he’s big” argument that everyone is posting online feels lazy.

The biggest knock on him is his puck handling – but the Flyers saw a big improvement between the start of the season and end. Add in the fact that he is a younger player and so has more developmental runway ahead of him, the Flyers are drafting him based on his projected developmental arc, and not the average of his play last season. And as far as approach goes, that is the sensible way to go about it.

If anything, this embodies the picks they have been making outside the top-10: players with unique attributes, and greater development path ahead of them, that have a high upside if they do pan out.

The ceiling of Solokovsky is much more desirable than that of a prospect who might become another Cam York.

I like the pick just fine, given all the context Charlie iterated (thin draft, late first round, etc.). A big, mobile defensive defenseman can be a very important piece, especially in the playoffs, and when paired with a complementary partner. Chris Therien was very effective next to Desjardins for years. So they now have Amigo and Soko and if one of them hits, great. Guys like this need to play smart and communicate on the ice well, though, so hopefully he ramps up on the English and gets great coaching in London and Maine. My friend in London has seen him play a fair amount and said he is an impact player.

Fourth paragraph from the bottom nails my view on this. Bleyle production can’t be ignored and he was considered one of the fastest skaters in the class. For an organization lacking in the high-end, game-breaking talent… this is a huge swing.

Drafting Morin was a reaction to a Pronger’s injury and missing out on Weber. Flyers were focused on getting the tough guy at the expense of missing out on the changing times of the league. Never to be confused with a forward-thinking organization, the Flyers put their tunnel vision on display.

Look, I want this pick to succeed. There’s just no precedent of the Flyers successfully developing a guy like this. They trade for them or attempt to sign them as free agents…but developing them? Perhaps that’s where a chunk of my skepticism comes from. Have to assume the organization has turned a corner in the AHL (plus whatever the NCAA can do to help polish and refine players).

Charlie,

Unless I missed it what is the hockey IQ part of his game like. The Flyers definitely don’t need a big guy who takes bad penalties especially at inopportune times. Being a large human the officials eye will naturally gravitate to him when he is on the ice. I get the “big nasty attitude” but you have to play smart and apply it when necessary but also hold back so you don’t put the team in a bad spot.

loco for Soko.

I have no problem with this pick. Given the number of picks that they had going into the day, the trade back was good. I won’t be sitting around from round 2 to 5, wondering whether they’ll do something other than playing at the blackjack table.

Patience is the word of the day. For what it’s worth, I absolutely hate it when every analyst says “he’s for sure a Flyers kind of player,” They haven’t been goons for decades. Will the kid hit? We won’t have an idea of that for a few years. Do they need another York or Drysdale who don’t match up against well organized talented opposition? This kid seems to have a couple of key things going for him:

1) He’s described as “mean”. One person that I saw mentioned the name Tom Wilson. He’s a favorite player of mine. He’s the type of player that can bring backbone to a lethargic team.

2) Yes, he’s big but he also appears to have some skating ability. Not just a lumbering, immobile giant.

3) He’s in a program that knows how to develop players. London has an impressive track record of recent player development. Both Barkey and Bonk came from there and even if they’re not the most talented they seem to be fundamentally strong. When the Flyers drafted Luchanko a couple of years ago, I wasn’t as upset that they don’t take Buium as they didn’t move up a spot or two to take Dickinson.

4). He hasn’t shown much offense but that doesn’t surprise me. Neither Pronger or Chara showed much offense early in their career. I’m not saying this kid will ever develop into that type of play driver but it’s not reasonable to think he can’t develop a reasonably mature offensive style.

As I said patience is the key. Not many at this place in the draft become big name forceful players. But he certainly sounds like he’s worth a lottery ticket.

Just seems like a trend. Reach on Luchanko, reach on Nesbitt, trade back to 27 to reach on this pick. I understand they got perceived value for Martone and Michkov, but those were low hanging fruit. I would love to see a pick outside the top 10 where the Flyers really stole a player.

To clarify, I mean in the first round.

I encourage people to look at the 9 minute video clip that Charlie has embedded in this story. What stood out to me is not just the impact of the hits but also how many of them were in the center of the ice, not just along the boards. Almost Steven’s-like.

Maksim Sokolovskii Is a giant LHD who can skate, hit, and fight. Oh, and he plays for London, there was a 0% chance that the Flyers were not taking him. I cannot say that I disagree and I usually do not fall into the trap of just liking Flyers-type of players. This one seems promising and I commend you for your ranking of him @ 33, well done! In that video he does not have to be highlighted as he is all you notice on the ice. His skating is fluid, he seeks and destroys and he is a human road block. I haven’t seen too many players that are stopped so abruptly by a player seemingly at will. I do think he will eventually make it into the NHL but only before he is given at least a year each at London, Maine, maybe multiple years, and finally the AHL. Look for him on the 2nd line in about 4-5 years.