Porter Martone has spent the last four years playing in the Ontario Hockey League. As such, he is a bit more seasoned than most other prospects. He will be 19 years old this year, so he is also a bit older. That might make the right winger a bit more NHL-ready.
Martone played for the Brampton Steelheads. If you are unfamiliar with them, that's because they previously played in Mississauga. In 57 games this year, Martone scored 37 goals with 61 assists. The previous year, he scored 33 goals with 38 assists. That's pretty consistent.
Speaking of consistency, he's been ranked in the top five of skaters in this year's draft. The kid can score. Standing at 6'3" with 208 lbs to his frame, he has the size that most NHL coaches want to see sliding down the side of the rink, blasting pucks past the goalie in the net.
In a draft profile by The Hockey Writers, they say of Martone:
"Martone has continued to improve his stock as a prospect as he always has that knack for having a strong balance of skill, physical play and a winning mentality. That is his trademark as he leads by example, doing whatever it takes to have a significant impact for his team. He plays a physical and intense brand of hockey, always playing a great amount of pace in the offensive zone, getting under opponents’ skin, mixing it up and making a living in front of the net. Whenever he has the chance, he won’t pass up laying the body as he can make heavy, punishing hits as he has that mean side and edge to his game."
He is projected to be the third or fourth pick taken. However, drafts take a funny turn sometimes. A player rises (like last year with Jett Luchanko) or falls for no apparent reason or for what the team feels their best needs are.
For the Flyers, do they need another right winger? For the most part, you would say no. They are flush with them right now: Bobby Brink, Tyson Foerster, Garnet Hathaway, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Matvei Michkov. Unless one of these guys is going to be moved in order to pick up a goalie, a defender, or move up in the draft, drafting Martone doesn't make a lot of sense.
However, outside of Konecny and Michkov, none of the other guys have been game-changing wingers yet, either. Foerster and Tippett have shown some flashes, but no steady consistency. Brink has had his moments, but hasn't stood out. In short, none of the other four has proven that they are the major stud performer that the Flyers need.
Martone would be a fantastic addition to this team. However, I would only select him if the Flyers have another card up their sleeve. If Daniel Briere wants to move one of the players from the right-wing log jam to acquire a goalie, defenseman, or package with some picks to move up from the 20s into the 10s in the draft, then Martone would make sense.
It's hard to leave him on the table when it is time to draft, unless you want to trade back a spot or two and acquire some future picks for him. However, it might be the best move Briere makes. But man....it'd be hard to pass up a scorer like him. It's a shame that, currently, the Flyers don't have the room for him.