The Flyers sat in an interesting spot in the first round. With the sixth pick, they were just outside the window of the elite players, but in a good enough spot to draft a key talent. Center was a position of need, but Danny Briere reiterated the team was going to take the best player available. And for them, that was Porter Martone.
The Flyers had James Hagens right in their grasp as Nashville shocked the draft by selecting Brady Martin, someone Philadelphia was linked to. And despite the need for a center, the Flyers may have gotten one of the draft's best wingers in Martone.
Martone could be the complete package, and his power forward style should fit in well in Philadelphia. He also gives the Flyers a boost at right wing, an area the team needed to address outside of center. And it doesn't hurt that he could play in all situations. Philadelphia desperately needs help on the power play, and Martone could give them that.
Martone has some experience playing with multiple Flyers already, as he was teammates with Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, and Travis Sanheim at Worlds this year. There's no doubt he got a first-hand experience of what playing in Philadelphia could be like.
Martone nearly hit the century mark for the Brampton Steelheads, finishing with 98 points in 57 games. He had seven games with four or more points. Michael Misa had eight and was the second overall pick. Good company to be in. Martone has compared himself to Matthew Tkachuk, and when selected, the broadcast named Mikko Rantanen as his player comparison. Both have won the Stanley Cup are have been key contributors for their teams.
He immediately endeared himself to Flyers fans when he mentioned having a poster of Claude Giroux in his bedroom as a child. Giroux appeared in 1,000 games for the Flyers and racked up 900 career points, 339 coming on the man advantage. What would it mean for Martone if he could become a key contributor for the Flyers like Giroux?
And if he becomes a part of the core that turns the Flyers back into a contender? It would mean that much more.
The Flyers will have two more picks in the second round. They have the 22nd overall pick courtesy of the Avalanche, which was acquired in the Sean Walker trade. They also hold the 31st selection, given to them by the Oilers for the 32nd pick in last year's draft. The pick was top-12 protected and would've shifted to 2026, but it was always unlikely Edmonton would bottom out.