Porter Martone is starting to look more like himself for the Flyers, and the timing has helped Philadelphia steady things after a rough opening stretch.
The rookie forward has seven points in his last eight games, a sharp turnaround from the one point he managed during the Flyers’ winless first nine games. Philadelphia has gone 4-3-1 since then, and Martone’s production has been a big part of that uptick.
For Martone, though, the numbers are only part of the story. The 20-year-old said Thursday in an interview with Daily Faceoff’s Jonny Lazarus that the biggest challenge has been adjusting to everyday life in the NHL.
“I’m still learning every single day,” Martone said. “I’m still a young guy in this league. I’m learning from all the older guys in this room and how they take care of themselves, how they prepare themselves.”
That learning curve makes sense for a player in his first full NHL season, even if he arrived with some momentum. Martone finished his collegiate run at Michigan State University before joining Philadelphia late last season, and he made an immediate impression. In nine regular-season games, he put up four goals and six assists for 10 points, then added two goals and three assists for five points in 10 playoff games.
Now, with a longer grind in front of him, Martone says he’s still figuring out what works best.
“I think I’m getting adjusted and I’m getting more comfortable,” he said. “For me, I’m trying to keep an open mind and keep on learning because these guys have been here for a long time, whether it’s from [the] coaching staff to all the players on this team, they’ve been around.
I’m figuring out some things that works for me, but also just continue to keep on learning. It’s a long season, and there’s going to be plenty of ups and downs.”
He also talked about the physical demands that come with the NHL schedule, another part of the transition from college to the pros.
“I think I knew what I was getting into,” Martone said. “But you play a lot of hockey games.
How do you take care of your body? I think that’s something I learned last year going to college, how to kind of fit my schedule, being able to work out and still be able to play.”
The Flyers made Martone the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and he’s part of a young group Philadelphia is counting on moving forward. That core includes Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, among others, with the Flyers hoping that group can drive better days ahead.
In Other News...
Flyers Just Made A Lineup Gamble That Could Change Their Offense
The Flyers rolled out a different look for their matchup with the Rangers, and the most notable tweak came up front. Cole Knuble is sliding into the second-line center role after spending most of his time on the wing, a move that gives the coaching staff a new way to organize the middle of the ice and could alter how the team attacks in the offensive zone.
Matvei Michkov is part of the shuffle too, dropping to the third line alongside Tyson Foerster and Noah Cates as Philadelphia tries to find the right mix. The defensive pairs stayed the same, and David Jiricek remained a healthy scratch, but the forward changes make this one worth watching to see whether the new alignment sparks more balance or simply adds another layer of uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Jett Luchanko Just Became The Flyers Prospect Fans Need To Watch
The Flyers push to sort out their 2023 draft class has already produced a few different paths, with some young players getting real NHL looks and others heading back to the AHL for more seasoning. Alex Bump was reassigned after having trouble finding the net at the NHL level, while Hunter McDonalds physical edge earned him a look before he, too, was sent back down. Through it all, Jett Luchanko has remained one of the more intriguing names in the group, showing enough promise to keep himself in the conversation even as the organization keeps managing his development carefully.
Luchankos latest setback adds another layer to that evaluation, because the Flyers now have to balance his upside against the reality of his current availability. For a prospect who already drew attention this season, the timing matters, especially with Philadelphia trying to figure out which young players are ready to stick and which still need more time in the minors. The next step for Luchanko is less about the spotlight and more about getting healthy enough to keep building on the progress that made him worth watching in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Denver Barkey Has A Deep Personal Reason To Remember MSG
Madison Square Garden already carries plenty of weight for any young player making his first NHL appearance, but Denver Barkeys debut there came with a family connection that made the night feel even bigger. The Flyers prospect stepped onto the same ice where his late grandfather, Randy Legge, once played for the Rangers in the 1972-73 season, giving the moment a personal resonance that went well beyond the usual nerves and anticipation.
Legge died in December 2023, and he had been a devoted follower of Barkeys hockey journey, which only sharpened the significance of the setting for the Flyers. Coach Rick Tocchet has already spoken highly of Barkeys intelligence and the way he plays, and now the young forward has a debut story tied not just to his career, but to a family history that will be hard to top. [Read more 🡒]