Porter Martone’s name is climbing fast, and that’s exactly the kind of development the Flyers were hoping for when they committed to a rebuild.
Philadelphia has spent recent years stockpiling young talent, with Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, Alex Bump and Denver Barkey among the names added to the pipeline. But Martone has already separated himself from that group in a hurry.
After finishing his first season at Michigan State, he signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers and immediately made an impact, posting 10 points in nine games while helping the club push toward a playoff spot. He also played a productive role in the Flyers’ run to the second round of the playoffs.
That kind of start is hard to ignore, and it has only fueled the excitement around what he can become in his first full season.
The buzz isn’t limited to Philadelphia, either. Corey Pronman of The Athletic included Martone among the NHL’s top players age 23 and younger, placing him 13th on the list.
That was a rise from 16th entering last season. In Pronman’s ranking of team prospect pipelines and best young players on rosters, Martone also came in as the Flyers’ No. 1 prospect in a system that The Athletic ranked 11th in the league.
Pronman’s evaluation laid out exactly why Martone is generating so much attention. “His skill level and creativity with the puck are elite, especially for a man his size,” writes Pronman.
“His reach and skill will allow him to beat a ton of NHL defenders one-on-one. He makes a lot of difficult plays and does so in traffic.
Martone competes well, showing no hesitancy to engage physically or create at the net. His major issue is the pace in his game.
His skating is OK for his size, but he’s definitely not a quick-twitch type and more of a player who will need someone else to gain the zone for him. The skill is so special though that even with his feet, he could be a top-line winger.”
For Flyers fans, the encouraging part is simple: Martone already looks like a player who can settle into a top-six role for the long haul. He hasn’t even played a full season yet, which makes his ranking on that list notable without being shocking. It also helps explain why his stock keeps rising.
That rise matters even more with Philadelphia approaching 2026-27 with a roster that looks largely intact. After the sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes, general manager Danny Briere spent the offseason retaining players such as Trevor Zegras, Dan Vladar and Jamie Drysdale.
The Flyers also added a new backup goalie and a defenseman in Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Briere made a push on a Leo Carlsson offer sheet, but the Anaheim Ducks matched the five-year, $90 million deal.
So the Flyers are, for the most part, running it back. The bet is on internal growth, especially from the younger group. Martone sits right at the center of that plan.
He already delivered more than expected in a short sample. Now the next test is a full 84-game season.
In Other News...
Flyers Fans May Need Patience With Danny Brieres Late-Summer Plan
Late summer has brought a familiar kind of Flyers checklist under Danny Briere: keep the important restricted free agents in the fold, patch holes with depth moves, and trust the young core to keep moving forward. Instead of swinging for a headline-grabbing addition, Philadelphia has leaned into smaller trades and modest free-agent signings, a path that suggests the front office views this stage of the rebuild as one built on patience more than splash.
The work has still mattered, with contract extensions, a trade to help in goal and on the blue line, and even an offer sheet for Leo Carlsson before Anaheim matched it. But with the 2026-27 season approaching, there is no sign of a major talent upgrade coming before opening night, leaving the Flyers to bet that incremental gains can add up while the bigger move waits for another day. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Playoff Hopes May Ride On One Risk They Havent Solved
The Flyers spent part of the offseason trying to make life easier in goal, adding Joseph Woll from Toronto to give the crease more stability and take some of the burden off the starter. It was a practical move for a team trying to climb back into the playoff picture in a crowded Eastern Conference, and it fit the broader theme of a roster that needs more certainty in a few key places before it can really be taken seriously.
Philadelphia still has bigger questions it has to answer on the ice, starting with how quickly young players like Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov can grow into larger roles. The deeper concern, though, is on the blue line, where the bottom-pairing mix remains unsettled and the Flyers are still trying to sort out which unproven options can handle real NHL minutes without the whole structure wobbling. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Prospect Rankings Just Sparked A New Debate About The Pipeline
Corey Pronmans latest U23 rankings from The Athletic gave the Flyers prospect pool a fresh round of attention, and it was easy to see why. Philadelphia placed four names on the list, with Matvei Michkov, Jack Nesbitt and Jack Berglund joining Porter Martone, who landed among the leagues most highly regarded young talents. When a team has that many players showing up in a respected national ranking, it naturally fuels the conversation about whether the pipeline is starting to look deeper and more legitimate than it has in years.
The debate around the Flyers is not just about who made the list, but also about who did not. Five prospects were also included among Pronmans top 100 U23 players selected after Round 1, with Berglund, Matthew Gard, Denver Barkey, Shane Vansaghi and Martin Psohlavec all getting recognition. Even with that group on board, the omissions are part of the story too, and they leave room for more discussion about how Philadelphias long-term young talent stacks up against expectations. [Read more 🡒]