Philadelphia Flyers
What To Do With Porter Martone?
Porter Martone is easily one of, if not the most pro-ready, prospects from the 2025 NHL Draft Class. It’s no secret that he wants to turn pro as fast as possible. Could he do it this year? It’s certainly possible. What about college or even returning to the OHL? There are plenty of options for the Flyers and Martone, but what should he do?
Coming into camp as the 2025 6th-overall draft selection, Martone has high expectations set for him. Would rushing him to make the roster in year 1 be too fast? Could it hurt his development?
Maybe the OHL is not where the Flyers want Martone. That’s understandable. But what if they don’t want him at the pros yet, either? Then, the NCAA may be the right way to go.
There are many options for the Flyers and their new prized prospect, but which is the right way to go?
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Is the NCAA the Right Route for Porter Martone?
As excited as I am to see Porter Martone tearing up the NHL, in my opinion, going to the NCAA is the best route for Martone.
While the NHL is the ultimate goal, playing in the NCAA would help him continue to develop his skills while in a more physical environment than the OHL.
The NCAA is tough. Competition in college is bigger, stronger, and faster. The CHL is home to some of the most skilled players in all of junior hockey. However, the competition is much younger and a lot less physical. Going to the NCAA, Martone will be playing against 18-23 year olds. Not to mention, the best teams in the country will be lining up to bring Martone and his talents to their campus.
Playing in the NCAA feels like the best all-around option. From what I have heard, even after the addition of Gavin McKenna, Penn State is still a real option for Martone. I would also expect a school like Michigan State, which missed out on McKenna and is home to Martone’s future teammate Shane Vansaghi, to get aggressive in pursuit. I would also still keep an eye on Michigan, North Dakota, and Boston University, in that order.
The NCAA route is the best option and is fun to discuss, but will it ultimately matter?
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Are the Pros Really An Option
While I still think that the NCAA is the most likely option for Martone, I feel as if it is more likely he will play in the NHL rather than return to the OHL this season.
Especially with the injury to Tyson Foerster, the Flyers now have an opening, though it’s short-term, on the wing. More specifically, they have a top-six wing opening.
If Martone were to go straight to the pros, the Flyers should not waste his development time on a bottom-six line. They’d want him to play with the most skilled guys they have to improve his development rather than hurt it.
He could be competing with Alex Bump, who might be more pro-ready than Martone, for the final roster spot, not counting Foerster’s.
If he does not secure that spot, then Martone could take over Foerster’s role until he is ready to return from injury and try to prove his worth. Who knows, if Martone keeps up, they can find a way to open a roster spot for him.
Playing in the NHL could be a challenge for Martone, especially coming straight from the OHL, but that feels better for his development than another year in Brampton.
Is an OHL Return a Possibility?
In all honesty, I only really see one scenario where Martone returns for one more season in Brampton.
That scenario: Martone signs his ELC, goes all in on making the Flyers out of camp, and does not make it, forcing him back to Brampton.
Look, the Flyers’ 2025 6th-overall pick has made his intentions pretty clear. He wants to play in the NHL as soon as possible. Is that this year? Who knows. However, unless he’s very clearly told by Flyers brass that he will not be on the team this season and they want him to play in the NCAA, he will do everything he can to make the team.
Let’s say the Flyers entertain that. He could make the team, OR they could send him back to Brampton for one more year.
If it does not happen out of camp, and Martone makes the team, he could always be sent back after nine games if they don’t think he’s ready.
What would you do with Porter Martone?
Read More: Flyers Free Agency: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
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Need to be careful given the Cutter contract issue. Probably ELC with 9 game trial to see his game then make the OHL decision or keep on the team. Alex Bump may also impact decision planning too.
It’s not like the OHL has suddenly become a garbage developmental league if a guy has a good draft season. If Martone wants to give it his all to make the team, combined with Foerster’s injury, I would at least give him the opportunity to try and if he’s not quite there he can be sent back before 9 games is up. He’d still have double the games that he would in the NCAA…and bigger more mature players doesn’t always equal better players. How many players were drafted in the first round out of the CHL this year?
How many players were drafted in the first round out of the CHL this year?
Given that you don’t start playing college hockey until after your draft eligibility year, most players play a year in the CHL or US development league before heading to college.
See how he does in the preseason and up to nine games. If he jells with someone on the second line then keep him. Otherwise let him play in the NCAA against older and bigger competition.
Cannot do that…..has to make the decision before Sep for the NCAA. If he accepts an ELC and plays the 9 games…..then NCAA is not an alternative at that point. It will be either make the Flyers after the 9th game or back to the OHL…he is caught between a rock and a hard place right now.
I’m on par with the other comments. See how it goes in the preseason, his play will dictate if Tocchet needs to make a decision to give Martone the 9 game trial and then go from there…
Not sure going back to the OHL is a good idea as to progressive development…..he is after older than most already….JettLu is only three months older than Martone. Nittany Lions would be a good landing spot for him vs Big Ten foes who are biger, older and more skilled than 16, 17 and 18 year olds in the OHL….and also at PSU gets some NIL salary.
Less PHYSICAL? ARE YOU INSANE !!! NCAA is like playing no body contact compared to OHL, or any CHL league. . The OHL is one of the most physically dominated leagues in Hockey.
I would take The Memorial Cup champions (London Knights over ANY NCAA team in a 7 game series… FOR FUN, College team may win 1, at the most games)
So 20 and 21 year old collegian hockey players would lose to smaller 17 and 18 year old hockey players.
Just look at Noah Powell, struggled at OSU….dominated against younger and smaller players in the OHL……https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/674718/noah-powell
Where do MOST NHL players come from? The CHL is the answer. Austin Mathews wouldn’t last 1year in the CHL. I strongly disliked the author’s statement in ”
The NCAA is tough. Competition in college is bigger, stronger, and faster. The CHL is home to some of the most skilled players in all of junior hockey. However, the competition is much younger and a lot less physical.
Are you kidding me William James? (You’ve probably never laced up a pair of skates in your life)
York on Zegras:
“He’s just a unique player,” York said of Zegras, who already knew him well from their time skating together for Team USA coming up through juniors. “There’s guys in the league that have skill, and there’s guys that have elite skill, and I would say he’s in that elite category.”
Martone should play with the Flyers this year. He’s ready, and the Flyers NEED players of his current skill level and ceiling.
I am so sick of hearing that our top prospects need another year here or another year there before they join the big club. All it does is expose them to injury or bad coaching while mediocre players hold their places on the big club. Even as much as I like Foerster, even he doesn’t have the upside that Martone has.
Martone – and Luchanko – are ready and already better than many of the players on the Flyers roster. They are certainly better than the stiffs that Danny B signed in free agency this year.
Will there be a learning curve, and will they look tired at times as they adjust to the grind of the NHL? Yes, just like there was a wall for Michkov to break through last year. But let’s get that out of the way sooner rather than later.
We’ve got a dynamic opportunity for our young players to meld together with the vision and passion of a new coaching staff from the start. Time to allow that to happen. These players (Michkov, Zegras, Luchanko, Martone, etc.) should be our core going forward, and they need to be playing TOGETHER as soon as possible.
Stamkos him.
Put him on the roster as they need centers.
Also when will people here realize college hockey is to the NHL what Monster Mini Golf is to the PGA tour.
Kam….you obviously don’t realize that Martone is a RW who can play the off wing if need be. He’s not a center.
Let em compete and make the decision for them Danny :]
Unfortunately the best solution of starting the season in the AHL (if necessary) and then joining the NHL when he’s ready isn’t available. For any power forward, the AHL experience would be much better than the CHL where they’d be playing against bigger and stronger competition. The power moves Martone easily makes in the CHL won’t be as easy and that’s needed for his development.
One more year!!! The new NHL/NHLPA agreement allows one 19 year old player per year per team to play in the AHL instead of going back to juniors. THIS would have been the best option for Martone, but unfortunately that rule doesn’t kick in until 2026-2027 season.
TO me this is pretty straight forward. Lay out his options and let him decide. Let Martone chose between signing his ELC and going “all in” or going to play at Penn State with McKenna.