What the Flyers are getting in star prospect Porter Martone

Mar 30, 2026, 10:05 EDTUpdated: Mar 30, 2026, 11:08 EDT

What the Flyers are getting in star prospect Porter Martone

Credit: Steven Ellis

The Porter Martone era is alive, Philadelphia Flyers fans.

The club officially inked their top prospect to a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday. The move came after Michigan State was eliminated from the NCAA playoffs over the weekend, keeping Martone from having a shot at the national title.

It’ll sting in the short-term. But in the long term, this is the moment Martone has worked his whole life for. While it might have seemed like a long shot a month ago, the Flyers are still in the playoff hunt. The odds still aren’t in their favor, but if they believe it’s possible, bringing someone like Martone into the fray could give the team a huge jolt.

We’ve seen plenty of college players – often rested compared to their NHL counterparts – join teams for a playoff push and add an extra level of energy. Martone isn’t known to be a tremendous skater by any means (he’s improving there), but he’s got the hockey sense to jump in immediately and help out.

“He’s a special player,” top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna said ahead of the 2026 World Juniors. “He’s very smart. He can make plays, and he can put the puck in the back of the net. There isn’t much more you can ask out of a player.”

Martone was one of the most notable prospects to jump from the CHL to the NCAA this season. Selected sixth overall by Philadelphia in 2025, Martone proved he was capable of putting pucks in the net over three years in the OHL. During his 2024-25 draft season, Martone focused more on playmaking and less on shooting, finishing with 61 assists and 98 points. The goal-scoring traits were always there, but he also proved he could be one of the best playmakers in major junior.

Going to college was about testing himself against older, stronger competition. Martone finished his college freshman season with 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points. No other NHL prospect score more than him in the NCAA – mission accomplished.

“I think I have evolved as a player and as a person,” Martone said back in December. “I’ve grown up, I’ve matured. But on the ice, I’ve added another element to my game. I’ve found my identity as a player, added a lot of strength in the gym that has helped with my speed on the ice, and I think I’m more consistent every shift to become the power forward I need to be.”

Scouts liked to compare Martone to Corey Perry and Matthew Tkachuk. He’ll fight you, he’ll hit you, and he’ll make you accountable for your mistakes. And while he’s capable of that, scouts wish he’d get more physically involved on a regular basis, though. From a pure muscle perspective, though, it feels like college was good for him – he didn’t lose many 1-on-1 battles along the boards. Martone has the puck skills to back up the smack talk, and he controls the puck exceptionally well.

There are few prospects more lethal with the puck than Martone. Boasting what many consider the premier vision out of the 2025 class, his offensive instincts are essentially second to none. Though he won’t blow anyone away with his foot speed, his hockey sense is universally praised as high-end. He simply reads the ice at a higher level, consistently finding and punishing gaps in the defense.

At the very least, Martone should give the Flyers some big help on the power play. The Flyers are at the bottom of the league in that regard, so Martone – who loves firing one-timers – should be able to help quite quickly. With an excellent shot an d a rugged frame, he can fill a variety of different PP roles.

As always, doing that age college kids is one thing. The NHL is a completely different beast. But Martone is in a position to give the Flyers a serious offensive boost within the top six. It’ll take some time to adjust – and since Martone is still young at 19, that’s to be expected. But he’s adaptable, smart, and coaches love him. He has been a leader both domestically and internationally. Teammates want to win for him. He’s skilled, he’s smart, and he’s a pain in the ass. The ceiling is truly high – Martone looks like a future top-line player.

For now, Martone needs to focus on building explosiveness into his skating over the summer. Without that, he won’t be able to exploit the middle as he did in junior. It’s not that he’s a bad skater, but compared to other top prospects, he lags behind. He has powerful legs, but his stride just isn’t optimal yet, and his acceleration needs work.

Despite that, Martone is a top 10 NHL prospect. Maybe even a top five. He has so much going for him, from high-end hockey sense, a great shot, and excellent playmaking acumen. Martone can knock guys down, but he doesn’t have that nasty element to his game. But if that ever evolves, he’s going to be an absolute warrior. Martone can be a playdriver, but he needs to learn to do that more consistently. That’s where NHL coaching can help.

Martone was one of the best players in college – someone Michigan State leaned on heavily. The Flyers are about to do the same very, very soon.

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