Shane Vansaghi didn’t have to look far to keep tabs on Porter Martone once the Flyers’ top prospect got to the NHL. He and his Michigan State teammates were already tuned in.
Martone, the Flyers’ first-round pick at No. 6 in 2025, signed his entry-level contract in late March 2026 and jumped straight onto the NHL roster. The early returns were loud: he made an immediate impression and even scored his first NHL goal in overtime.
Vansaghi, who went to the Flyers in the second round at No. 48 in 2025, spent the 2025-26 season alongside Martone at Michigan State. In late June 2026 interviews, he described how closely the group followed Martone’s rise.
“I believed in him. I knew he could do it.
When he did make the jump, we were watching [him] play everyday, and root for him. We were all so happy to see him have that success.” - Shane Vansaghi, Martone’s teammate at Michigan State
The college teammates didn’t just keep an eye on Martone individually. They were getting together to watch Flyers games and cheer on their former linemate, a small snapshot of the connection they built during their time together. Martone is now already producing at the NHL level, while Vansaghi remains at Michigan State as a physical, energetic forward.
That bond showed up again around Flyers Developmental Camp, where the organization’s young talent kept drawing attention.
Nikita Grebenkin was seen rehabbing from his most recent undisclosed injury, and he may also be wearing a new number. On day two of camp, photographer Michael Reaves captured Grebenkin with 17 on his helmet, instead of 29, suggesting he may have taken Jett Luchanko’s old number.
Luchanko is dealing with a “Lower Body Injury” and expects to get back on the ice next week. It’s the second straight year he’ll miss the on-ice portion of Developmental Camp because of injury, and he also played through a broken jaw in the playoffs this past season.
Even with those absences, the early word from camp has been positive. Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and Martone are said to be having strong camps, and all three are continuing to stand out as leaders while they impress the Flyers’ top brass.
In Other News...
Flyers Add Another Mystery Forward With Something To Prove
The Flyers added another low-risk forward option to the mix, signing Nolan Foote to a one-year, two-way contract as they continue to sort through the edges of their roster. The deal gives Philadelphia a depth piece with a clear path to compete in training camp, and it comes with the kind of modest financial commitment teams often use when they want to see whether a player can earn a longer look.
Foote, who previously played in the Florida Panthers organization, will be paid at the league minimum of $850,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL. For the Flyers, the real question is whether he can push his way into the conversation for a roster spot or end up starting the season in Lehigh Valley, which is where these kinds of signings often begin to reveal their value. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers New Czech Goalie Addition Comes With One Surprising Twist
The Flyers added another intriguing name to their goaltending pipeline when they used a second-round pick on Martin Psohlavec, a Czech netminder who has already gotten a taste of the organization at Development Camp. The young goalie has plenty to like on paper, too, after turning in a strong run in the Czech Under-20 League and showing enough promise to be part of a prospect group that is starting to draw some attention in Philadelphia.
Psohlavec also arrives with a built-in connection that makes the fit a little more interesting. He said he is excited to be in the same system as fellow Czech goalies Dan Vladar and Marek Sklenicka, and he has singled out Vladar as a role model as he begins to map out his own path. For a Flyers team always looking to build depth in goal, the nationality link is a small but notable twist, and it adds another layer to watch as Psohlavec settles in and starts talking with the veterans who can help shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Porter Martone Is Sending A Clear Message At Flyers Camp
Development camp is giving the Flyers a first real look at prospects in different stages of the pipeline, and Porter Martone is right in the middle of it. The young forward arrives with more recent NHL experience than most of the players around him, but his summer has still been a balancing act after a long season that stretched through international play and playoffs. He spent about a week and a half away from the gym after the World Championships before ramping back up, and this week marks his first time back on the ice after stopping play roughly three weeks ago.
The Flyers are easing him in with power-skating work and checking in on how he feels as camp goes on, which fits the broader point of this week: development is not always linear, even for a player already trying to push toward the next level. Martone has made it clear he wants to keep improving and put himself in position for the season ahead, and the way the Flyers handle his workload now should say plenty about where he stands in their plans. [Read more 🡒]