Before the Flyers were on the clock with the sixth overall pick in June’s draft, one player they didn’t think would still be available was Porter Martone.
“I think we were really shocked that he dropped as far as he did in the draft,” Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong said. “It ended up being a big positive for us.”
After the shock wore off, the Flyers knew they could not pass up on the opportunity to draft a potential top-line scoring winger. But when the Flyers drafted Martone, it was a shocking move to the outside. With a logjam already at the wing position and two high-profile centers still on the board, the initial question was why?
“We felt we couldn’t pass up on the chance to bring a difference maker like Porter Martone to the team,” general manager Danny Briere said on draft night.
That chance is already paying dividends as Martone is turning heads at Michigan State. In his first eight games, he has four goals and seven assists.
One of the main reasons the Flyers advised Martone to go the NCAA route was to help get his body ready for the next level and play against older competition.
“He’s a dominant junior hockey player. Then we realize that he has so much more growth in his body,” Armstrong said. “I think that’s been a bonus of him going to Michigan State now. Growing more and gaining more muscle and losing that baby fat.”
That growing progress is already showing itself.
In a recent interview with Elite Prospects Cam Robinson, Martone mentioned his weight is up about 9 pounds of muscle. But down almost 4% body fat. “It’s not just weight. I feel stronger, more explosive. My muscle density is better. I can feel it in battles and around the net,” Martone said.
The strength and explosiveness, especially around the net and in battles, are something the Flyers have already taken notice of.
“He’s going to the dirty areas. He’s playing at the net front, where he’s getting challenged against bigger, heavier defensemen,” Armstrong said. “You can see his explosive power within his skating. You can see him taking pucks to the net and holding defenders off.”
As Armstrong noted “that’s all your base, your legs, your big butt, your core muscles, like a standard hockey player.”
While Armstrong isn’t in constant communication with Martone himself, he is with their trainers and the Spartans Hockey Director Brad Fast.
Compared to Juniors, college hockey’s schedule allows players to spend more time in the gym. The Flyers want Martone, who is listed at 6’3″ 210 pounds on the Michigan State website, to get bigger and stronger while in East Lansing, even with the potential of it being a single season in a Spartans uniform.
“I’m shocked at how fast his body is changing. When I talk to the trainers, they are like man you can see it changing,” Armstrong said. “The biggest part of it too, in Junior, they play 72 games. Now they’re playing 36 playoff games, maybe 45 or something like that, where he’s getting a lot more gym time.”
Another key reason to send him to the NCAA was for Martone to have the best shot at the pros when the Spartans’ season ends.
“We want him to have a shot at, you know, whether it’s Flyers or Phantoms after this season,” Armstrong said. “I”m not in control of that – it’s above my head – but it’s about having him ready to make that step.”
With years of experience under his belt, Armstrong thinks that “a lot of the times a kid comes into the Phantoms, then it takes them a year, two years, and then we’re still trying to get him going.”
Before Martone can take that next step, he still has a lot more to do this year. His next priority will come in December at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships. And even if he doesn’t play a predominant role for Hockey Canada, there are other things to learn.
“If Porter goes to World Juniors and he’s the third line right winger – puts him into a checking role – having a good stick, being hard on the fore check, creating momentum turns for Team Canada and all that type of stuff. I think it’ll help round out his game,” Armstrong said.
The director of player development compared the situation to how two rising wingers, who are currently thriving with the Flyers, have adapted their games in Philadelphia.
“I think you look at a guy like Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink when they first came here as a prospect, and then a Flyer. They were goal scorers,” Armstrong said. “That’s all they were known for. Now they have rounded out their games.”
The ultimate goal for Martone this season is to have him ready for that next step. And, most importantly, to get his body ready for the grind of a pro season. Armstrong selfishly admitted he hopes it’s next season with the Flyers.
“I hope, as my job, for him to play with the Flyers next season,” Armstrong said. “That’s what I want for him.”
As Martone works on accomplishing this, he is doing so under the close eye of Armstrong and the Flyers. They have been very happy with his progress.
“What I’ve noticed the most is you see him, his mindset,” Armstrong said. “He’s driven to be a Flyer and he wants it.”
