The Philadelphia Flyers have had a resurgent season this year. That resurgence has been partly the result of first-year head coach Rick Tocchet breathing new life into the club.
But there’s also something interesting about the Flyers this season. The team has seen several young players make significant leaps. Trevor Zegras looks like he’s about to hit the ceiling that pundits believed he had when drafted.
Also, Noah Cates, Denver Barkey, and Jamie Drysdale all look like solid NHLers. But there was a late-season addition that figures to be the next great power forward: Porter Martone.
Martone was the sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He spent this season in the NCAA, playing with Michigan State. All he did was score 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games. The 6’3”, 209-pound, at 19 years old, has shown signs of playing with maturity well beyond his years.
He’s been able to use his size and speed to create opportunities. The Peterborough, Ontario native has also used his shot to his advantage.
That unique skill set allowed Martone to make an immediate impact on the Flyers. In nine regular-season games, he scored four goals and 10 points.
19-year-olds are not really supposed to be that good, that soon. But Martone has shown that he has that sort of ceiling.
Martone Key in Flyers Game 1 Win over Penguins
Martone went nuts in the Flyers’ Game 1 win over the Penguins. He recorded his first playoff goal, making him the youngest Philly player to do so.
Even if the goal had been his 1,000th, it was a ridiculous one that made the Penguins look silly.
The goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Flyers took the game 3-2. The goal proved that Martone is the real deal. He hardly seemed rattled by the playoff atmosphere. Most importantly, Martone looks like the sort of player who isn’t looking to win a lineup spot. In his mind, he’s working hard to keep it.
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Philly Desperately Needed a Player like Martone
On the whole, the Flyers desperately needed a player like Martone. Sure, there’s plenty of pop in the lineup. Players like Zegras, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, and Matvei Michkov have the skills to light the lamp often.
There was a need for a bulky forward, however, who could drive the play while being an intimidating force. That’s Martone in a nutshell. And that’s considering that he’s 19 and has plenty of room to grow and bulk up.
The Flyers signed Martone to his entry-level deal this year. He’s still under contract for two more seasons before hitting RFA status. So, Flyers fans will be counting on Martone being in the lineup for the foreseeable future.
If there was any doubt about selecting Martone, this solid, if small, sample size has proven he can be a core piece on an up-and-coming roster that will be looking to get better with time.
Flyers Martone Looks Like NHL’s Next Great Power Forward