Philadelphia Flyers
REPORT: Porter Martone to the NCAA
It seems as if Porter Martone has made his decision.
According to Elliote Friedman, the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2025 6th overall draft selection is off to East Lansing to play for the Michigan State Spartans.
Martone was connected to a Big Ten rival, Penn State, which recently landed the big fish in Gavin McKenna. A source informed me that landing McKenna made it much more difficult for PSU to bring in the Flyers prospect as well.
The young forward will have until August 1st to enroll in the school and officially confirm his decision.
Martone will now join his fellow Flyers 2025 draftee, Shane Vansaghi, who is entering his sophomore season at Michigan State.
After working with Karsen Dorwart at development camp, another fellow Spartan, he likely heard nothing but good things about head coach Adam Nightengale and the University.
The Spartans were in big need of star power after missing on McKenna and losing Isaac Howard to the NHL. Martone is no consolation prize, and will certainly fill that need for star power.
With his decision, Martone takes himself out of the running for one of the final roster spots. However, he can join the Flyers at the end of the Spartans’ season.
Was this the right or wrong choice for Martone?
Read More: Predicting Matvei Michkov’s Next Contract
For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@wmjsports
@PhillyHockeyNow
Shoulda went to Michigan!
Not liking it at all.
Ultimately it’s his choice, but if I’d have been GM I’d want him on the ice for us this season, and would have done what was needed to make that happen.
Maybe GM DB would prefer the extend the rebuild (and his job security) but I’m ready see the front office at least act like they’re trying to win.
Best decision for the long run. He will gain invaluable experience and make the club next year when all of the chips will be on the table and hopefully free agents will want to sign here.
It will probably all come down to how the goalies do and how the team adjusts to Tocchet’s system as to whether they will be a playoff cusp team or a lottery team. Kinda torn on which way I want them to land, but I think for the long run, one more year with a top ten or better pick will help them the best.
“…but I think for the long run, one more year with a top ten or better pick will help them the best.”
I wish I shared your optimism.
I just see how it hasn’t seemed to help Buffalo, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, etc.
If success came from picking high in the draft, they’d all be champions, and we’d still be far behind them.
Would not surprise me if Adam Nightingale talked to DB and Jonesy and asked to see if they wouldn’t mind if Martone can take some shifts as a center ice man in a pinch. With his size, vision, defensive game and playmaking abilities may come in handy for the Spartans…just so long as it is not against the Nittany Lions.
Come March he will sign his ATO and head to the Phantoms for the year end run…that is assuming the Flyers are already out of it and do not want to waste an ELC year for a few weeks of the NHL season.
Read that as another wasted pick.
Every player around him will be on theur roster past November.
He’ll be skating g around high sticking everyone in their little cages.
If the AHL rule were in place this season, that would have been the perfect spot for him. Play against bigger, stronger, and better competition and could have made the move to the NHL when he was ready. That could have been the Christmas break. College is probably the better choice since he could run over 95% of the D in juniors and possibly develop bad habits.
It’s the right decision all around. I don’t think he’d get more than 9 games with the Flyers, which would mean a trip back to juniors. Better to make the decision now and prepare for a year at MSU.