The Philadelphia Flyers have spent the last couple of years preaching patience, but bringing Porter Martone into the fold has accelerated their timeline. After turning pro out of Michigan State and stepping straight into the Flyers' lineup down the stretch, Martone quickly proved why he is a foundational piece for Rick Tocchet's group.
But while his entry-level deal gives Philadelphia massive value right now, general manager Daniel Briere faces a looming reality: NHL contract prices are skyrocketing, and letting Martone’s ELC completely play out without an extension in place could open up a ton of issues.
The reality is that signing players earlier has a high value rate right now.
Martone's extension needs to be a top priority
Look around the league, and the price for elite young talent is rising faster than ever. Star players are increasingly skipping traditional long-term deals, preferring to sign shorter-term deals. This allows them to maximize their earnings. With the salary cap projected to continue its rapid upward trajectory, elite production is commanding higher AAVs every single summer. Not to mention, the idea of offer-sheeting a young star forward who hits the open market as an RFA has been brought to life. Of course, by no other than Briere himself.
That changing financial landscape makes Martone's contract situation a critical focal point for Philadelphia. At 6-foot-3, he possesses the exact combination of size, power, and offensive skill that commands top dollar on the open market.
Especially if Martone builds on his impressive late-season debut and turns in a Calder-worthy campaign over a full 82-game schedule, his price tag will surge. The good news is the Flyers can wait until next season to sign him. However, they need to set things up now so they can fit Martone's deal in their future plans.
Ideally, they would want Martone locked up for when the next crop of players after him signs. It makes his deal look like an underpay, but, most importantly, gives the Flyers the extra cap space to continue to fill out their roster with the hope of becoming a Stanley Cup contender.
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