Flyers' Porter Martone Draws Rave Reviews for Choosing NCAA Path

Porter Martone is doing all the right things ahead of his eventual Flyers debut. (Photo: Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

Many are thrilled that top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone chose to go to the NCAA via Michigan State, and that sentiment extends to national media, too.

Martone, 18, is just one of several talented prospects around the NHL to take his talents to the NCAA from the CHL, a move growing increasingly popular amongst those who've played the game.

Longtime NHLers-turned-NHL Network analysts Mike Rupp and Brian Boyle, both of whom the Flyers became intimately familiar with over the years, are the two of the latest proponents.

"I think this is a conversation that either Philly had with him, or he was not comfortable yet signing right away, but when you go to college and you play against 23, 24, and in some cases, 25-year-olds, it's a different game. It's men you're playing against," Boyle opined on NHL Network. 

"The NCAA has proven now they're brining in high-end talent. You've seen some draft picks recently, Macklin Celebrini is one. Jack Eichel had a great freshman season at BU, he went second overall.

"There's high-end talent there, but then you're playing against the Unviersity of Maines of the world, or some of these teams that recruit older players. And they're men, they're physically stronger. There's nothing to say that if [Martone] has a great year, he can't sign in March when his season ends at Michigan State and then have his contract and start his pro career then.

"It just doesn't rush the process. So many of these kids want to get to pro hockey as soon as they can. And that's a good thing. You should be chomping at the bit to get to pro hockey, but you can take your time in college and still get better. You can build your body up in college, you play two games a week in college. There's a lot of benefits to it."

Boyle, 40, knows all about the college process from his own playing career, going through the same kind of thing as a 6-foot-6 forward.

Boyle played 159 NCAA games with Boston College in four full seasons before embarking on an NHL career that lasted 14 seasons, including 11 trips to the playoffs, establishing himself as a bottom-six staple for teams like John Tortorella's New York Rangers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Flyers, of all teams, should know the kind of physical menace Boyle turned into after four years at the collegiate level.

Added Rupp: "The CHL is going to lose all the best players. We're starting to see it happen because of the rule change. I think it's a problem from that standpoint. From the player's standpoint, you have to do what's best for you to be ready to play in the National Hockey League and I think this is a great move."

So, while Martone will likely be disappointed not to be competing for an NHL roster spot with the Flyers this fall, it's widely agreed upon that this was the right move for his development.

Plus, as Boyle noted, there's a good chance Martone arrives in Philadelphia in the spring anyway.