Porter Martone is all-in on making the NHL roster this year. (Photo: Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Just one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.
The 18-year-old, who turns 19 on Oct. 26, is steadfast in his belief of his ability to make the NHL right away. This week is just an opportunity, in Martone's eyes, to set himself up for an early Flyers debut.
It's not unreasonable, either; Jett Luchanko, who had only turned 18 years old on Aug. 21 last summer, made the Flyers out of training camp and played in four NHL games before returning to his OHL club, the Guelph Storm.
But Martone's goal is to make it and stick. Any other outcome will be ironed out later.
"For me, my mindset is, play in the NHL next year. If the management staff here thinks otherwise, that's when there will be a talk with my agent and me," Martone said of his future, and potentially going the college route, at development camp Wednesday. "Right now, my goal is to make the NHL and have a big summer. Really gain some strength in the lower body and come into camp and try to earn my spot.
"For me, I want to go and play a full regular season in the NHL next year."
Openly advocating for himself and having that confidence at a young age is key, especially given that Flyers GM Danny Briere floated Martone by name as a potential injury replacement for Tyson Foerster, who could be at risk of missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to an injury and subsequent infection.
"Obviously, when you come into camp, you have to earn your job. You're not going to just get it given to you," Martone added. "If I get the opportunity to come in, I want to give it my all and try to earn my spot on the opening night roster. If I do, that's a dream come true to play with the Flyers organization. That doesn't come without the work that needs to be put in."
And should Martone make the Flyers outright, he'll be one of the youngest debutants in franchise history. Captain Sean Couturier, for example, debuted only two months before he turned 19, so he'd be a nice sounding board for Martone in that event.
Until then, though, Flyers fans can take solace in the fact that Martone's mind is already in the right place, and his talent and work ethic will take him where he needs to go.
The 2025 No. 6 pick is very similar to Matvei Michkov in that regard, and perhaps it's not a coincidence that they approach the game itself similarly, too.
