Did Philadelphia just get a spoiler on the MLB All-Star selections?
On Friday, banners boasting some of baseball’s biggest stars were spotted by The Inquirer around town. The banners, first noted by user @gerawaycar on X, appear to be in place for the MLB All-Star Game, which is July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Many banners are clustered near Market Street, leading up to City Hall.
The Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton is getting a banner, too.Conor Smith / Staff
The only issue? The MLB has not yet announced the game’s rosters.
The league is scheduled to name starters and reserves on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Fox29). If the banners do correspond with the league’s selections, Philadelphians got a sneak peak. The Inquirer has reached out to the city of Philadelphia for comment.
The banners also could just be promotional material. In 2019, Phillies star Bryce Harper was featured prominently on multiple banners Cleveland, which was hosting that year, despite not being selected to participate.
Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts signs ahead of the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland. Harper was not named to that year’s National League roster.Matt Breen
In 2021, when the game was in Colorado, a sign was spotted featuring Harper alongside Chicago White Sox catcher Yermin Mercedes and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon.
Not necessarily true! Here’s a sign in Colorado during the 2021 All-Star Game featuring Yermin Mercedes, Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon. All three were not All-Stars 😂 pic.twitter.com/dgOVHgIjd4
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 3, 2026
Players that are featured on Philadelphia’s banners include the Washington Nationals’ James Wood, New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale, the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes, and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton.
Other banners also have been spotted on social media. Players that were spotted include the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez and Kyle Schwarber, Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, Mets’ Juan Soto, Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, Cleveland Guardians’ Cade Smith, Toronto Blue Jays’ Louis Varland, Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., and Athletics’ Nick Kurtz.
A banner depicting the Washington Nationals’ James Wood is seen near 15th Street and JFK Boulevard.Conor Smith / Staff
Historically, Philadelphia has a rocky relationship with kings. That could change.
Following the team’s blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, it seems the 76ers could be a legit candidate to land LeBron James, who will not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for his 24th season. Here’s why the proposition is not as far-fetched as it may seem …
What is Mike Gansey’s connection to LeBron?
The prospect of James coming Philadelphia was already picking up steam on social media following the Brown trade. Then, Steven Gansey, the younger brother of new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, added fuel to the fire.
On Wednesday, Steven posted a throwback photo of his brother (far right) alongside James (second from the right) in high school on X. He captioned the post with the eyeballs emoji, insinuating a connection.
As the photo shows, Gansey and James have crossed paths. The two Ohio natives competed in high school. Gansey, who went to have a memorable collegiate career at West Virginia, finished as the runner-up to James in the 2001 Mr. Ohio Basketball race.
Would Gansey make another splashy move?
Over a decade after facing LeBron on the court, Gansey served in a variety of roles in Cleveland during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers. In 2016, when James willed the team to a 3-1 comeback over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Gansey received a ring as the team’s director of development league operations.
Signing James would also be in line with the Sixers president’s resume. Gansey has previously shown that he is not scared of making splashy moves — and bringing in one of the NBA’s all-time greats is a cannonball.
As the Cavaliers general manager, Gansey was part of a front office that traded for stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Now, during his first offseason leading the Sixers, he executed a trade for Brown — another top-tier player. So it wouldn’t appear Gansey is too risk-adverse to add another star to the roster.
New Sixers president Mike Gansey has been known to make splashy moves.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Are the Sixers actually in the mix?
On Wednesday, Rich Paul, James’ agent and longtime friend, told Game Over podcast host Max Kellerman that between 12 and 14 teams have reached out about his client. With the Sixers appearing to be all-in this season, it would make sense that the team has interest.
And on Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Sixers are “trying to make a pitch” to James.
"I'm told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James… Include the Sixers & maybe 1 or 2 other teams in due time in that mix. The Sixers get Anfernee Simons & they’re obviously trying to continue to add to this team.”
Shortly after, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also linked James to the Sixers, pointing to Tyrese Maxey’s connection through Paul and Klutch Sports.
“A key factor in any sort of Philadelphia pursuit of LeBron is Tyrese Maxey. That is not only because of his talent, which is awesome, but he’s one of Klutch’s core clients,” Windhorst said. “He’s basically a part of LeBron’s extended family, so you would not only have Jaylen Brown as the addition, you would have Tyrese Maxey as your drawing card.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to emerge as a strong suitor for LeBron James due to the Tyrese Maxey connection, per @WindhorstESPN
Maxey, who shares the same Klutch Sports agency as LeBron, is viewed as a major recruiting tool for Philly. pic.twitter.com/6GCoUHgl9y
James has also been linked to the Heat, the Cavaliers, and the Warriors since becoming a free agent.
How would LeBron fit with the Sixers?
James’ time-proven versatility makes him a good fit on most NBA rosters, and the Sixers are no exception.
James could easily slide into the four-spot over presumptive starter Dean Wade, a free-agent acquisition from Cleveland. Even if Joel Embiid is banged up during the regular season, the Sixers have two high volume scorers to take the load off James in Brown and Maxey. Last season, Brown and Maxey finished fourth and fifth in points per game, respectively.
The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer is more than willing to take the backseat in the twilight of his career. Last year, Lakers guard Luke Dončić led the league in points per game as James served as the team’s secondary ballhandler. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 games last season. With the Sixers, he would be asked to do even less.
The Sixers, after signing former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti on Wednesday and guard Anfernee Simons on Thursday, are now over the luxury tax and $3.2 million under the first apron, where they are hard-capped. They are now limited to veteran minimum contracts, meaning they could sign James if he is willing to play on a low-cost deal.
Joel Embiid (right) tried recruiting LeBron the last time he was a free agent.CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Have the Sixers ever been close before?
The last time James was seeking a new team, as a free-agent in 2018, he gave Philadelphia a look.
Although many considered James to Los Angeles to be a done deal at the time, he did consider joining the Sixers. In an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols after signing with the Lakers, James mentioned that he chose the Lakers over the likes of the Sixers and the Houston Rockets — two teams that boasted more talent than LA at the time — to help cement his legacy as a great.
“I definitely thought long and hard about the possibilities of lining up alongside Ben [Simmons] and [Joel] Embiid, or lining up alongside [James] Harden and Chris [Paul],” James told ESPN in 2018. “I felt like at this point in my career, the ultimate for me — just like when I went to Miami, everyone kind of looks at me joining a super team.”
“I like the challenge of being able to help a team get to some places they haven’t been in a while, and obviously the Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in a few years,” he added.
Representatives from Philadelphia met with James’ camp but James did not attend the meeting. The meeting was led by then-Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who was also serving as the team’s interim president following the resignation of Bryan Colangelo.
Leading up to that free agency, Philadelphia made an all-out push for James with Embiid taking to social media to pitch his team to James. The then-24-year-old center made a plea on Twitter (now X), and even took a shot at Colangelo by referencing a now infamous line he used on one of the burner accounts that led to his exit.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia-based company Power Home Remodeling purchased three billboards outside of Cleveland to court James, who played for the Cavaliers at the time. Two of the billboards read “Philly Wants LeBron” and “Complete The Process” — referring to the Sixers’ motto spearheaded by former president Sam Hinkie. The third billboard featured LeBron’s number on the court alongside the numbers of the Sixers’ starting lineup.
The rumor mill around James joining the Sixers mainly revolved around his well-known relationship with Simmons, who was known to workout with James on occasion. Both former first overall picks, the two (like Maxey and James) shared an agency in Klutch Sports. Coming out of the draft and early in his career, Simmons, a 6-foot-10 point guard, also received a hefty comparison to James because of his playmaking ability and size.
Wednesday’s trade between the 76ers and the Boston Celtics has left many puzzled. In exchange for Paul George, two first-round, and two second-round draft picks, the Sixers received Jaylen Brown from the Celtics.
Still, despite the struggle to make sense of how the trade unfolded, people had a lot of thoughts.
Here is how the national experts are grading the George-Brown trade …
ESPN
Sixers: A-
With guards like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and a center like Joel Embiid, ESPN wrote that Brown could be the fit that the Sixers needed, but that’s also not guaranteed.
“As a pure talent play, trading this package for Brown should have been an incredibly easy decision for the 76ers’ new front office,” Zach Kram wrote. “They’re swapping a declining role player for an All-NBA star who’s six years younger and still at his peak, and they’re not giving up close to all the draft capital they could have in the process.”
As for the other end of the trade, there was no wondering how George would fit. No matter what, ESPN wrote that it was a bad move on the Celtics’ part. The only alternative ESPN considered was if the Celtics would package the picks they received in the deal for another star.
“Swapping Brown for George makes the Celtics worse. It clearly makes them worse. Crucially, it lowers their playoff ceiling,” Kram wrote.
The Athletic
Sixers: A
The Athletic predicts that swapping George for Brown will be a big difference-maker for the Sixers and their position in the Eastern Conference, especially considering George’s previous season, 25-game suspension and all, compared to Brown, who had one of his best individual seasons.
“The Sixers can now roll out a perimeter attack of Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe, which is going to be nearly impossible for teams to match up against,” Zach Harper wrote. “On the nights Embiid is available and active, they could be one of the best teams in the East. On the nights when Embiid is struggling or unable to play, they’ll still be fine.”
The Celtics’ part in this trade, the Athletic said, feels like a panic move in reaction to the tension Brown seemed to be feeling following the discussions about his role in a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“The Celtics’ decision to go with George instead of Brown is a massive downgrade. He has a much more alarming injury history, and he’s simply not as good,” Harper wrote.
Even when Sixers center Joel Embiid (21) is out, adding someone like Jaylen Brown offers a boost.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
CBS Sports
Sixers: A+
When ranking the worst contracts in the NBA in March, the now-36-year-old George’s deal was No. 4. Moving off that contract and adding Brown is a win-win in CBS’s eyes.
“For all of these years, we’ve talked about the possibility of Brown getting traded so he could lead his own team,” Sam Quinn wrote. “On the 76ers, there will be nights in which he’s the leading scorer and there will be nights in which he finishes fourth. To get a reliable, in-his-prime All-Star for two picks and what we’ve been treating as one of the NBA’s worst contracts is an outright steal.”
Celtics: D-
For the Celtics, CBS Sports considered how Brown’s contract no longer worked for the team, but still, George’s contract doesn’t seem to make sense for them, either.
“The theory of trading Brown in the first place, unless there was unresolvable tension behind the scenes, seemingly related to his contract,” Quinn wrote. “Both he and Tatum are making supermax money. Having two players make 35% of the salary cap every year puts an almost impossible strain on your depth.”
Yahoo! Sports minced no words in declaring that Philly got the better player in the deal, while also dumping a worse contract. There are, however, concerns with Brown’s fit with the Sixers.
“Brown isn’t necessarily a strong outside shooter, which is a necessity alongside Maxey and, in particular, Embiid,” Morten Stig Jensen wrote.
“Overall, though, Philly takes a step forward here with a pretty durable 29-year-old coming off an outstanding season.”
Celtics: B
Yahoo! Sports had a much more optimistic spin than most other experts when it came to Boston and the dimensions of the trade.
“George, 36, might have health issues, but when he does play, his shooting capabilities align perfectly with the values of head coach Joe Mazzulla, which shouldn’t be undervalued,” Stig Jensen wrote.
At 36 years old, forward Paul George could be more open to a complementary role with the Celtics.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Bleacher Report
Sixers: A
Like the rest of the experts, Bleacher Report gave the Sixers high marks on acquiring Brown, with a focus on how he can fit with Embiid.
“This is a big swing for a team that can compete for a conference finals berth if Joel Embiid is healthy in the playoffs,” the Bleacher Report NBA staff wrote. “And having an innings eater like Brown should make it easier to be very gentle with Embiid’s regular-season minutes.”
Celtics: A
The difference, however, between Bleacher Report and other outlets came in its viewing of the trade from Boston’s perspective, seeing their return as equal to what they traded away.
“For the Celtics, things had clearly gotten untenable between Brown and the organization,” Bleacher Report wrote. “And getting multiple first-rounders for him, considering how widely accepted his future departure was, is good value.
“Plus, though he’s entering his age-36 season, George can still be helpful in a complementary role next to Jayson Tatum (and will be more willing to be in that role).”
The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) July 1, 2026
Showing some Brotherly Love
The trade didn’t just have fans and media talking. Other Sixers and figures with Philly ties have shared their thoughts on the newest addition to the roster.
While Tyrese Maxey took to X to react, fellow Sixers VJ Edgecombe and Jabari Walker reposted the news on their Instagram stories with Walker captioning the story “scary sight.”
And despite their current New York ties, Abdul Carter and Josh Hart shared their thoughts on the acquisition — and the NBA offseason at large. Carter is a Philadelphia native and Penn State product who’s now an edge rusher for the New York Giants while Hart is a former Villanova star who’s now a New York Knick.
Some Celtics fans took to social media to express appreciation for Brown’s time in Boston, especially for leading them to an NBA championship, for which he was named Finals MVP in 2024.
Jaylen Brown said he'd go to war for Boston.
He did that, secured a title, and likely put his name in the rafters. For him to be sent to Philadelphia is something probably no Celtics fans wanted, but it was a fruitful tenure overall.
And in Philly, fans are looking forward to seeing the connection between Joel Embiid and Brown following some of the comments Brown made regarding Embiid and his “flopping” after the Game 7 matchup between Boston and the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this season.
After a slow start, the 76ers‘ first move of free agency came late Thursday night as they signed Dean Wade, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a four-year, $39 million deal.
Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward played 59 games (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on the move to the Indiana Pacers, Wade could shift into the starting lineup come October.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Sixers’ new signing:
Gansey’s guy
New Sixers president of basketball Mike Gansey has a long history with Wade, so it is quite fitting the former Cavalier is his first free agent acquisition.
As the Cavaliers assistant general manager, Gansey helped bring Wade in as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal in 2019. After a year playing mostly for the Canton Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, Wade cracked the Cavs’ rotation in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Kansas State product has been a key contributor for the Cavaliers, whose role players included Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has a preexisting relationship with Dean Wade.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Though the Cavaliers boasted stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and, later, James Harden, they relied heavily on “glue guys” like Wade under Gansey’s watch. Cleveland won 64 games in 2024-25 and 52 games last season. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to roster role players who fit around the team’s stars in recent years, something Gansey is hoping Wade can change.
“It’s not a championship-caliber team right now, but we’re going to work on that,” Gansey said at his introductory news conference. “Obviously get those four, get the big four [Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe] together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit and that obviously can help.”
In Cleveland, Wade was best known for his defense.
With the Cavs, Wade was tasked with defending players at all positions. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, just five players gave up fewer points per drive than Wade last season, according to the ALL NBA Podcast.
Wade’s defensive prowess was noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors’ leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three, me, [Harden], and Evan [Mobley], Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over Toronto in Game 2. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (right) acknowledged Dean Wade’s contributions during their time as teammates.David Dermer / AP
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket.”
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Rural roots
Wade’s hometown of St. John, Kan. is a bit different from his landing spot in Philadelphia. The rural town is home to roughly 1,200 residents. For reference, Xfinity Mobile Arena has a capacity of 21,000 for Sixers games.
“It’s a small little farming community, but it’s filled with great people who care,” Wade told Abilene-RC.com in 2018. “Everyone loves each other. If you go there, you really understand what it means to have a family environment. It’s a great little town.”
Added his father, Jay Wade: “It’s rural America. When we need something, we don’t just hop in the car and go down to the Home Depot. We’re 25 miles away from the nearest Walmart.”
Before carving out a role in the NBA, Dean Wade (left), here defending a pass from Kennesaw State guard Tyler Hooker, had a solid career at Kansas State.Charlie Riedel
Wade led St. John to three state titles. During his senior campaign in 2014-15, he was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and the Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. That season, Wade averaged 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.4 assists as St. John went 26-0. Wade was a finalist for national Gatorade Player of the Year but lost out to Ben Simmons.
When Wade arrived at K-State, his hometown followed him.
“There are die-hard [Kansas] fans in this town that have bought season tickets to K-State just to keep watching Dean,” Jay Wade told Abilene-RC.com. “They drive to Manhattan for every game and wear purple.”
NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and, within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, agreeing with Dean Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal.
This was the first free agency move for new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who previously was the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven seasons of his career.
Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and versatility on the court have led many to think he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age (29) and contract terms garnered some criticism.
Here’s how experts are grading the move:
ESPN: B+
Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 36.7% career three-point accuracy make him the type of player the Sixers have been seeking for years, ESPN said.
“The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”
The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns about the four-year commitment and a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.
“I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”
New Sixer Dean Wade will turn 30 early next season.Julio Cortez
Bleacher Report: C
Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, which gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free agency signings so far.
“Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”
The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.
Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes will expand her chain of gymnastics academies to Mount Laurel in September.
The South Jersey location, at 1180 Nixon Drive in the East Gate Square shopping center, is the first effort in Dawes’ planned expansion into the Philadelphia area. She plans to open five or six additional gyms in the coming years, according to Philadelphia Business Journal.
Along with the Mount Laurel location, Dawes, who’s from Silver Spring, Md., also is opening a second location in the Houston area in August. Her first academy opened in Clarksburg, Md., in July 2020, and there currently are six locations across Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Texas.
Dawes is a three-time Olympian who competed at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games. She made history as the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in gymnastics with a bronze medal on the floor exercise in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She also helped win team gold at those same 1996 Games when her teammate Kerri Strug famously completed her vault exercise on an injured ankle. The “Magnificent Seven” was the first United States women’s gymnastics team to win a team gold at the Olympics. Dawes also won team bronze in 1992 in Barcelona and 2000 in Sydney.
Now a mother of four, Dawes has spoken publicly about the toxicity she endured during her career and how she doesn’t want her children — or any other children — to experience the same. Instead, she hopes to redefine the culture of the sport through her string of academies that have an estimated 7,000 students ranging from toddlers to 18-year-olds.
“We’re trying to do things differently,” Dawes said in an interview with Capital B Atlanta. “It means nothing if your child is a great gymnast — standing on top of the podium — but yet, their self-esteem is shot, their mental health is shot, and they don’t know how to make relationships in this world. I believe that if that is the outcome, then we’ve failed.”
Plans for expansion into the Philly area don’t include specifics on locations yet, but the Philadelphia Business Journal reported that proximity to families is a large factor in Dawes finding spaces for the gyms.
The Flyers selected six players during the 2026 NHL draft, — three defensemen, two goaltenders, and one forward.
After trading down from No. 21 to No. 27, the Flyers selected Maksim Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound defenseman from the Ontario Hockey League, with their first-round pick.
The 17-year-old is not expected to play anytime soon in the NHL — he’s returning to the London Knights for the 2026-27 season before playing for the University of Maine the following year.
In the second round, the Flyers selected Western Hockey League defenseman Brek Liske with the 53rd overall pick. The team also added goalies Martin Psohlavec (62nd overall pick) and Marek Sklenička (120th overall pick).
And with their last two picks in the draft, the team selected Minnesota high school standout Kent Sauer (136th overall pick), a 6-foot-3, 202-pound center, and 17-year-old defenseman Max Laatikainen (213th overall pick), the youngest player in this year’s draft class.
Here’s how experts are grading the Flyers’ 2026 NHL draft class …
Flyers general manager Daniel Brière meets with the media after picking defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Inquirer: B
We start with our own Flyers writer Jackie Spiegel, who gave the team the highest grade among the outlets listed, although her grade was reflective of only the team’s first-round pick and not the team’s draft as a whole.
“Sokolovskii, who was born in Kazakhstan and grew up in Russia, brings meanness and physicality, and considers himself a shut-down defenseman who likes to hit,” Spiegel wrote. “Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek called him the hardest hitter in the draft class. Some have even compared his physicality and nastiness to that of fellow 6-7 blueliner Nikita Zadorov of the Boston Bruins.
“There’s definitely some boom-or-bust volatility with Sokolovskii, but the Flyers hope they have added a massive defenseman who plays playoff-style hockey, can kill plays defensively, and strike fear into opponents with his physicality.”
Maksim Sokolovskii, right, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, left, after being drafted by the Flyers with the 27th pick in the draft.Adrian Kraus
ESPN: C+
ESPN made its grades based on “what the teams did with their selections, how they maneuvered the draft board and how much value they gained or left on the board where they picked.”
The Flyers were among six teams to get a C+, ranking alongside the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Washington Capitals.
“Kudos to the Flyers for trading back, understanding they could be patient and accumulate pick value,” Rachel Kryshak wrote. “They left some value on the board in favor of drafting for organizational fit, but got decent value with the Brek Liske pick. Max Laatikainen is an excellent bet in the seventh round as the youngest player in the draft and a prospect with potential.
“At the end of the day, you need to draft high-end talent to compete. The Flyers passing on upside for players who fit the style their coach wants to play is risky business and certainly costs them some grading points.”
The outlet gave the San Jose Sharks the best grade (an A++), saying they had one of the best first rounds in draft history.
Brek Liske (42) was the Flyers’ second-round choice. DARRYL DYCK
The Athletic: C
The Athletic handed out Cs to 14 different teams, including the Flyers.
“The Flyers went with big, toolsy defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii at 27, who moves incredibly well for his size and plays very hard, although he has no offence,” Corey Pronman wrote. “Defenseman Brek Liske and goalie Martin Psohlavec have chances to play in the NHL. I would guess one regular comes from this class for Philadelphia.”
The lowest grade handed out was a C-, and only five teams received a grade lower than the Flyers: the Vegas Golden Knights, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals, the Oilers, and the Dallas Stars. The Toronto Maple Leafs topped the list with the only A+ grading.
Bleacher Report gave the Flyers a C for the team’s selection in the 2026 NHL draft grades.
“Maksim Sokolovskii (27th overall) is a 6′7″ defenseman who moves well. The appeal should already be obvious,” Adam Herman wrote. “And he does play as big as he appears. He’s probably the most physical defenseman in the draft. He knocks players over with the ease of a house of cards, and he has the mobility to do it consistently. If he makes it, and that seems fairly likely, there will be few players in the NHL like him.
“I just don’t see too much upside. He isn’t very good with the puck, and while his skating is good for his size, it’s not an active plus. I think the best-case scenario is a No. 4 defenseman who can’t be used in any offensive situations. The Flyers need upside, and Sokolovskii doesn’t provide it. I would have liked this a lot better if it had been 37th overall.”
The Lightning received the worst grade of the draft, getting the only D ranking. Meanwhile, the Sharks received the only A+ grade from the outlet.
Maksim Sokolovskii (No. 17) tied forward Brooks Rogowski for the tallest players measured at this year’s combine.Courtesy of London Knights
Yahoo! Sports: C
Yahoo! Sports also gave the Flyers a C, saying that Sokolovskii may not have neither been the best available player at the time nor the best organizational fit.
“Standing at 6-foot-8, weighing 240 pounds, Sokolovskii has drawn comparisons to Nikita Zadorov as a physical, shutdown, defensive defenseman,” Eric Cruikshank wrote. “There’s definitely value in that, but with little upside, it would be a much more justifiable selection in the second round rather than the first. Adding a two-way blueliner in Brek Liske and one of the top goaltending prospects in Martin Psohlavec helps elevate their class, but it was certainly a rough start.”
The Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks top the list with an A+ grade.
Sporting News: C-
The Sporting News gave the Flyers the lowest grade on the list when it came to the team’s first-round pick.
“Maksim Sokolovskii is a giant, standing 6-foot-7. He’s a shut-down defender who understands how to use his size to separate his opponents from the puck,” Julian Gaudio wrote. “It does fill a need for the Philadelphia Flyers, as they need size on their blueline, but Sokolovskii is a project and is like five years away from becoming an NHL player.”
The Maple Leafs, Sharks, and Seattle Kraken top the Sporting News’ list with an A+ grade.
The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, in celebration of their 35th anniversary, endured the weather and took to the streets, drowning out the sound of rain with the beating of drums on Saturday.
Kicking off at 41st and Filbert and circling back around to 40th and Powelton, the Steppers — known by many in the region for their work as the Sixers Stixers — led a parade to start the day, followed by a ceremony renaming the 4100 block of Powelton, which will now be known as West Powelton Steppers Way.
“The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad’s drum beat is Philly’s heartbeat,” Jamie Gauthier, City Councilmember of Philadelphia’s 3rd district, said.
The West Powelton Steppers and Drumline march down the street on Saturday.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
Other drumlines and squads, as well as family and friends, joined in the celebration while vendors lined the street in recognition of the group Elsie Wise founded in 1991. Her grandson, Antoine Mapp, is now the director of the West Powelton Steppers.
When Mapp’s grandmother founded the drumline, the hope was to give young people in the community a safe place to go, while instilling core values of discipline and hard work, a legacy Mapp now continues through his work.
Gauthier helped unveil the street renaming and presented Mapp and the steppers with a key to the city. Mapp was also honored with an honorary badge from the sheriff’s office.
“I know that your grandmother is looking down on you right now and is so unbelievably proud,” Gauthier said while addressing Mapp. “You have taken this squad to heights no one could have imagined 35 years ago.”
The West Powelton Steppers march in an event honoring their 35 years entertaining the community. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
In their 35 years, the Steppers have become the city’s official steppers, as well as the official steppers for the sheriff’s department and the Philadelphia International Airport. As the Sixers Stixers, they became the official steppers for the 76ers in 2013.
Gauthier commended the Steppers for their ability to “electrify” the crowd anywhere they went, from Sixers games to community rallies. Along with their affiliation with the Sixers, the drum squad also performed in the Eagles Super Bowl parade, the Phillies World Series parade and at some Phillies games where they’re billed as the Bass Line. They’ve performed at Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia Soul games, during halftime for Penn basketball and football, and New Jersey Devils games as well.
Outside of the realm of sports, they’ve performed at amateur night at the Apollo, on America’s Got Talent, and opened for Boyz II Men and *NSYNC, along with countless community events, even winning two regional Emmys in the Mid-Atlantic division.
“People used to call James Brown the hardest working man in show business,” Gauthier said “But I think Antoine Mapp is the hardest working man in Philadelphia.”
Antoine Mapp, the director of the West Powelton Steppers and Drumline, cheers during the street renaming ceremony.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
The drumline itself has often been called “the hardest working drumline,” practicing 12 hours and performing at multiple events per week.
Guathier said the multiple ways Philly honored the West Powelton Steppers was the least the city could do to show its appreciation for what has become a staple in the community due to its commitment to “artistic excellence, mentorship, and service.”
“Here’s to an even more impactful next 35 years,” Gauthier said.
The Flyers are nearly on the clock for the first round of the 2026 NHL draft.
The draft starts Friday night and the Flyers will have four picks — one each in the first, second, fifth, and seventh rounds. Here’s everything you need to know before the draft begins.
The 2026 NHL draft officially starts at 7 p.m., but the Flyers won’t be on the clock for a lottery pick. The first round of the draft will air live on ESPN. The second round begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and the draft will end with the seventh round that same evening.
When do the Flyers pick?
After winning a playoff series overthe Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2026 postseason, the team’s first since 2019-20, the Flyers will pick at No. 21 overall during Friday’s first round.
The Flyers will also have three picks on Saturday: in the second round (53rd overall), fifth round (136th overall), and seventh round (213th overall). The fifth-rounder was obtained as part of the package in Thursday’s Garnet Hathaway trade, essentially replacing a sixth-rounder that was sent to the Florida Panthers in the deal.
Who are the top players?
The projected top two picks are Penn State winger Gavin McKenna and Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery and the San Jose Sharks have the second overall pick. Other expected top picks include defensemen Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff, and center Caleb Malhotra.
McKenna finished with 36 assists (second-most in college hockey) and 51 points (tied for fourth-most) in 35 games.
“It was a good season, I think,” McKenna said at the NHL scouting combine. “In college, the guys are bigger and stronger and faster and stuff, and the game in itself, I think, is just a little different than junior. It’s more straightforward hockey.
“So found out early on that things [weren’t] just going to happen easy, and I think once I got to World Juniors, I kind of got my confidence back and kind of figured out the game a little bit more, and started working harder off the ice and on the ice and getting in the dirty areas a little bit more, and I think that’s why I started producing more.”
Who will the Flyers pick at No. 21?
Now that the Flyers aren’t up near the top of the draft, there are a lot more variables impacting who they might select.
In Flyers beat writer Jackie Spiegel’s latest mock draft, she had the Flyers selecting center Jack Hextall, a distant relative of former Flyers goalie and GM Ron Hextall. The younger Hextall scored 20 goals and had 38 assists for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League last season.
“His bread and butter is how well-rounded he is,” The Athletic’s NHL draft and prospects reporter Scott Wheeler told The Inquirer. “The details off the puck, up and under sticks, retrievals, board battles, he’s got pro habits.
“If you talk to the guys in Youngstown, the first thing they say about him is that he’s a pro; this isn’t a junior hockey player, like a lot of these kids are. [He] does everything the right way, no selfishness to his game, and he doesn’t cheat for offense.”
