Flyers select Max Laatikainen with final pick in 2026 NHL Draft

The Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up their 2026 NHL Draft by taking defenseman Max Laatikainen in the seventh round (213th overall).

Laatikainen is the third defenseman the Flyers took in the draft after Maksim Sokolovskii (27th overall) and Brek Liske (53rd overall).

The 17-year-old Finn was the youngest player in the entire draft. Standing at 5’11” and 185 pounds, Laatikainen is right-handed and, according to scouting reports, is a solid skater who can move the puck around well and provide offense. He was ranked 74th among all European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Laatikainen has played through the ranks of the Kiekko-Espoo system in Finland over the last three seasons. Laatikainen spent the majority of this past season with the U20 squad, posting 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in 22 games. He also made his Liiga debut with Kiekko-Espoo, appearing in six games in Finland’s top league and notching a pair of assists. Laatikainen also represented Finland at the U18 World Junior Championship and Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He recorded a goal and assist in 5 games in the former, and 2 assists in 5 games in the latter.