The Philadelphia Flyers had a plan to build their roster through the NHL Draft, in hopes they can have a young corps of players that can contend for a Stanley Cup for years to come. After years of drafting, the Flyers got their first crack at the playoffs since 2020, and picked up a first-round series win over their hated rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even though they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, the vibes in Philadelphia were still positive, as this could serve as a learning experience for the young stars on their roster.
One of the young players of their core who, arguably, has the highest upside is Porter Martone. The 2025 first-round draft pick of the Flyers made his debut with the team late in the season, and immediately ingratiated himself into the lineup, especially while playing the role of pest against the Penguins in the playoffs. But with a full season ahead of him, the expectations for Martone are particularly high.
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recently released his top 100 prospects rankings list weeks after the draft. Inside the top five is Martone, who ranks as the third-best prospect in the entire league, per Wheeler.
Porter Martone ranked No. 3 in The Athletic's Top 100 prospects in NHL
"...he has a lot of attributes: size, strength, power, shot, playmaking, puck skill. He’s going to score goals, make plays and be able to impose himself in the NHL when he really comes into his own," writes Wheeler. "He has the talent to become a high-end point-producing winger. The skill and hockey sense are real, and the consistency of his effort level and toughness have developed over time, too. He’s one of the top forward prospects in the game. I debated ranking him No. 2."
The Flyers having the third-best prospect in all of hockey? How can you not be pumped as a Flyers fan?
For those curious as to who ranked ahead of Martone, Ivar Stenberg of the San Jose Sharks ranked second-overall, and Gavin McKenna of the Toronto Maple Leafs ranked first-overall.
Martone made his debut and played in the team's final nine games, where they were looking not only to clinch a playoff spot, but third place in the Metropolitan Division. Martone more than held his own, scoring four goals and dishing out six assists in those nine games. While it did burn a year off of his rookie contract, the Flyers felt it was more than the right time for him to make his debut shortly after Michigan State's season ended. That decision paid off, as he learned what it's like to play in must-win games late in the regular season and in the playoffs. Even in the playoffs, Martone scored two goals and recorded three assists in 10 games. That's pretty good, especially for a rookie with limited playing experience.
Now, Martone is going to get a full season under his belt, where he should slot into the Flyers' top line. Considering the numbers he put up in less than 10 games, one can only imagine how much production he could provide Philadelphia's offense.
Flyers fans are certainly hoping that Martone truly develops into one of the franchise's next top stars.
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