Porter Martone just looks like he was born to be a hockey player. The prototypical power forward, he is a very skilled, very sturdy winger that piled up the points in the OHL last year as captain of the Brampton Steelheads. He was just too much to handle at that level, and despite still being raw in some aspects of his game, there just seems to be such a high floor with Martone. At 6’3, 207 pounds straight out of the draft, he should be able to withstand the NHL’s physicality immediately, whereas that is a concern with other forwards, you can totally checkmark that box here, and his hands and shot are just as impressive, especially for a man of his size.
It will always be a lame cliche that doesn’t even fit reality anymore, but I would be lying if I said Porter Martone didn’t look like a Flyer.
Pre-draft rankings
Ranked #3 by Elite Prospects
Ranked #6 by Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)
Ranked #4 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
Ranked #4 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Martone is the prototypical power forward for the modern age. A strong, yet still shifty skating stride has made the 6’3 winger near-impossible to defend at the OHL level. His 37 goals and 98 points over 57 games with the Brampton Steelheads is proof of that, and he was such a handful every time he got on the ice.
His hands are silky, especially for such a big body, and when he gets on a roll and really starts asserting himself on the game, there is very little that opposing teams could do to slow him down. Out of his 57 OHL games, Martone had 15 contests where he scored three or more points. He has an NHL frame right now, and he could jump into pro action and likely not struggle all that much with the physicality. There’s a very high floor with Martone, and if he was able to fall into the right development situation with a good system and teammates around him, the ceiling as a sort of Quinton Byfield archetype is very appealing.
Martone uses his weight in the corners to win puck battles and distribute to his teammates, and as he gets more comfortable and grows into his own even further, that snarl and grit should only get more apparent. He is just as adept in the open ice, however, and can really surprise defenders when they realize that this freight train skating at them just did a loose puck deke, and is now three strides behind them.
He also not surprisingly a handful in front of the net, he has that innate knack for just finding pucks in a scrum, and when he gets to them he has no problem finishing. Martone seems to enjoy being in the mix, and he has the frame and mindset to thrive in them without getting knocked off his game mentally, which is a plus.
I personally love Martone’s game, and if he can develop his skating stride just a bit further, which we’ve seen is very possible with NHL skating coaches, everything else about him just screams 15 year career as a top-line winger. He should have the ability to have a varied scoring diet, whether it be off the rush, netfront, or set up in the offensive zone. In any situation, he can fill the net, and with the added bonus of his value as a play driver, he should pile up the points wherever he goes.
Oh, and he has a little flash too.
What’s not to like?
His skating is a little wonky, not shocking for a player his size, but it is something that he’ll need to improve if he truly wants to be an elite top-line winger. It’s not exactly his top speed that is even the issue, more the first few strides that get him up to that speed. His foot agility could definitely use improvement, and it’s kept him out of the discussion for being the first overall selection. If he was to not live up to his potential at the next level, it would be because of that foot speed.
Martone at times could alsp use his body more assertively, not that he needs to be a goon or some sort of Garnet Hathaway-esque bruiser, but if he could unlock a more visible mean streak to go along with his naturally heavy game, it would make him a more versatile asset and just that much more of a headache to deal with.
There was also the issue of his usage at this past World Juniors, where he was scratched, and found limited usage under Canadian head coach Dave Cameron. The argument against this point, however, would be that Dave Cameron is a fundamentally bad hockey coach who totally mismanaged that Canadian roster, but still, Martone looked unconfident and couldn’t really find a footing at the tournament, which should still be noted.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Positionally, the Flyers should be looking at centers primarily, but if they were to be left in a position where taking a center would be a reach, Martone would fit like a glove in the Flyers system. He has the potential to be a Wayne Simmonds-type of player with a bit more puck skills, and his playstyle would definitely be a hit with the fanbase.
He should be able to stack up points and that’s something the Flyers, especially at an individual level, have struggled to do for quite a while. Martone also seems like a very useful power play asset, either at the net front or in the slot, and the Flyers can always use those.
And with the Flyers forward corps skewing on the smaller side, (Konecny, Brink, Michkov, etc.), Martone would add an element of size that would definitely vary up the attack.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
It’s possible, Martone could go anywhere from picks 3-6, and that will be in the Flyers wheelhouse, lottery balls pending. Again, there’s a chance that Flyers are looking center with their first pick, but if they wind up in the 3/4/5 range, and Michael Misa goes at two, they could view some of the other centers like Frondell and Desnoyers as reaches, and just go best player available with Martone.
That still remains to be seen, but if the Flyers really want Martone, they should be able to get him. It just seems like all signs are pointing center at this point.
What scouts are saying
“Martone plays a physical, direct game with real skill and scoring ability. My viewings before this year had honestly been a bit of a mixed bag, with game notes in which I thought he looked like a stud and others in which I left the rink not feeling like he made much of a mark and wasn’t in line with the hype. This year, though, he has looked dominant more consistently and has completely taken over some Steelheads games I’ve been to.
Martone’s got a pro game and frame. He battles, goes to the net, finishes his checks, and will drop the gloves. He handles the puck smoothly for his size and can be quite noticeable in possession when he’s playing with confidence and intention“. – Scott Wheeler
“Martone uses his size to his advantage in the hard areas of the ice, extending plays along the boards and driving to the crease. When pucks arrive on his stick in high danger scoring areas they usually end up in the back of the net“. – Jason Bukala
“Martone has the playmaking game down, and he can score, and he reads the ice well. The decision-making isn’t always on point, but it’s mostly positive, and he knows how to improve attacking conditions, how to drag defenders to him, and which plays to make. He makes some dynamic catches, and his net-front game could be a real strength at the NHL level, as he has the timing, deflection, and rebounding skills”. – David St. Louis
Another name gone, another name added, this time it’s the intriguing defender from the Tri-City Americans, Jackson Smith.
“Smith has generated a lot of NHL interest due to his combination of tools and production. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who skates quite well. He’s funky-looking at times, going 10-2 with his edges a bit too much, but he’s a powerful, fluid skater who can easily get by checkers and skate pucks up ice. Smith often tries to attack with his skill and can break down players one-on-one easily. Smith’s decision-making isn’t the best at times, and I wouldn’t call him a natural playmaker, but he creates a lot of offense and has a good point shot. Defensively, he’s decent due to his frame and feet, and when he’s leaning into checks, he can be a two-way force. His defensive play is inconsistent, in part because he’s often up in the attack, but he has the potential to be a great top-four defenseman who can play on both special teams“.
