The Philadelphia Flyers opted to rebuild in hopes that they would draft the right young players that not only can be consistent playoff contenders, but help the franchise win their third Stanley Cup title. The Flyers in recent years drafted the likes of Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey. But no one has made more of an impact than Porter Martone.
After completing his first season at Michigan State, Martone signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers. The team hoped he would provide a boost as they made a push for a playoff spot, and he provided just that with 10 points in nine games. Not to mention he was productive in the Flyers' run to the second round of the playoffs.
Martone lived up to the hype for Flyers fans, and they are undoubtedly excited to see what he can do in his first full season. Martone has already caught the attention of the league, as well.
The Athletic names Porter Martone one of the top 23-and-younger players in the NHL
The Athletic's Corey Pronman ranked each team's prospect pipelines and their best young players on the roster. For the Flyers, who have the 11th-ranked farm system in the NHL, Pronman has Martone ranked as their No. 1 prospect.
"His skill level and creativity with the puck are elite, especially for a man his size," writes Pronman. "His reach and skill will allow him to beat a ton of NHL defenders one-on-one. He makes a lot of difficult plays and does so in traffic. Martone competes well, showing no hesitancy to engage physically or create at the net. His major issue is the pace in his game. His skating is OK for his size, but he’s definitely not a quick-twitch type and more of a player who will need someone else to gain the zone for him. The skill is so special though that even with his feet, he could be a top-line winger."
Martone being the Flyers' top prospect isn't surprising, considering how productive he was in just a limited amount of time. He is only expected to get better over time. But if there is one thing the Flyers can bank on, it's that he's going to be a top six forward for the foreseeable future.
But, Martone's stock is on the rise in the NHL. Pronman also unveiled his rankings for the top 23-and-younger players in the NHL, and Martone ranked 13th. For comparison, Martone was ranked 16th on this very list entering last season.
Sure, it might be lower than what some Flyers fans would have wanted, but you have to take into account that he hasn't played a full season just yet. Plus, it's difficult for him to be ranked higher than the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Matthew Schaefer. Martone's stock should only increase, especially if he keeps up the pace next campaign.
Flyers must bank on Porter Martone taking next step heading into 2026-27 season
After being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes, Flyers general manager Danny Briere mostly focused on retaining key players on the roster like Trevor Zegras, Dan Vladar, and Jamie Drysdale this offseason. They did bring in a new backup goalie and a defenseman in Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit, respectively, in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Briere did go for the big swing on a Leo Carlsson offer sheet, but watched the Anaheim Ducks match their five-year, $90 million offer.
So, for the most part, the Flyers are running it back with the same roster as last season. But, the key is they are banking on their younger players taking the next step in an effort to move past the second round of the playoffs.. That includes Martone.
In a limited sample size, Martone more than exceeded expectations. Now, we'll see what he can do in a full 84-game season.
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