As a tool for prospect evaluation, sometimes the World Juniors can be a bit overblown. It is technically as close to “best-on-best” as you can get at the U-20 level, but it is ultimately just a one-off tournament during the holidays that disproportionately benefits players who are playing well at that specific moment.
With two of the Flyers’ most important prospects representing Canada in Porter Martone and Jett Luchanko, it has been intriguing to watch how they have adapted to their linemates and different roles on what is a stacked roster full of future NHLers. At the same time however, there is only so much to be gleaned from games where they blitz an unsuspecting Danish team with nowhere near as much talent.
What has been more consistently interesting to watch is how the players are being deployed. Canada’s head coach Dale Hunter is one of the more respected names in Canadian Junior hockey, and his talent evaluation has been part of building a dynasty with the London Knights that the Flyers have benefited from greatly in recent times. So when he plays Jett Luchanko in pressure situations and on the penalty kill, it is a confirmation that those skills exist and should be an asset at the next level.
In the same vein, the Canadians have deployed Porter Martone in one particular way that could offer a glimpse into his future usage at the NHL level.
Martone has primarily played alongside Utah prospect Tij Iginla, and the Sharks’ Michael Misa. As by far the biggest player on the line (Iginla is listed at 6 foot, Misa 6 foot 1), it hasn’t been surprising to see Martone try and force his way to the front of the net, while the other two work more on the perimeter.
But it’s been Martone’s power play involvement that has been the real illuminating factor for a Flyers team that has struggled with the man advantage for the better part of the last decade. Canada has opted to use Martone as a net front presence on their “second” power play unit, which also features Luchanko. Martone uses his big, 6’3 frame to screen the goalie, and has created some great opportunities for electric Canadian defensemen like Zayne Parekh and Kashawn Aitcheson to get dangerous opportunities through screens.
This goal from Michael Misa is one of the best illustrators of this, as the Slovakian goalie’s view is completely eclipsed by Martone, who gives him no chance to even react before Misa’s shot is behind him.
Even more encouragingly, Martone hasn’t just been confined to a run of the mill netfront role. While he has profited from that spot, he has also been free to flare out to either side of the net and make plays. Whether it be recycling the puck to the point men, looking cross-seam, or even letting sharp angled shots fly, Martone has shown himself to be a dangerous weapon that can beat you to the net with both physicality and skill.
On both his weak or strong side, Martone has been capable of getting shots to the net while constantly relocating, and while yes, the NHL will be another level up than the Danish U-20 team, it is promising to see his confidence on the man advantage be so evident.
While it isn’t the only problem the Flyers’ power play faces, the lack of a dominant netfront presence has helped make the team’s man advantage historically inept over the last half-decade. And while there will still be questions regarding his transition to the next level, right now Martone is looking like he could offer a light at the end of the tunnel.
