The season hasn’t even started, but it appears that the first impression Philadelphia Flyer winger Porter Martone made on a lot of people hasn’t diminished over the summer. In fact, it might have even grown. Martone is one of the odds-on favorites to win the Calder Trophy, otherwise known as the rookie of the year award. And it’s the general consensus among those willing to put money down on it, and those pundits who have no vested interest in putting their money where their mouths are.
According to FanDuel, one of the world’s leading gambling sites, Martone is at +260 currently to take home the Calder, just ahead of the 2026 NHL top overall pick Gavin McKenna of the Leafs (+280). San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg is third (+550) while Cole Hutson (+900), Anton Frondell (+900), and Roman Kantserov (+1600) round out the top favorites.
Meanwhile, SportsInteraction has Martone also in front (3.50) with McKenna (4.00), Stenberg (8.00), Frondell (10.00), and Hutson (10.00) fleshing out the top six. Other Flyers on the list are extreme longshots with forward Luchanko (301.00) and defenseman Oliver Bonk (301.00) near the bottom of the list. In short, Martone isn’t the runaway favorite to take home the Calder, but he seems to be the one player who a lot of people are expecting good things from in 2026-27.
Why Martone is a Calder Trophy favorite
Martone’s scoring touch, talent, size, and skill is perhaps the biggest reason he’s a bit ahead of McKenna in terms of primarily leading the odds for the Calder. Especially in the playoffs, scoring two game-winning goals in the first two games against Pittsburgh in the opening round. Like most of the other Flyers, he hit a wall and cooled off in the second round against the eventual Stanley Cup champs in Carolina. But that second round disappointment didn’t diminish what was a fantastic first chapter in what could be an exciting career.
McKenna — who fell into Toronto’s lap thanks to the draft lottery — also appears to have a very high upside, and considering there’s a better than average chance he’ll be get playing time with Auston Matthews and/or William Nylander, it’s possible he racks up a good chunk of points on the power play. Of course, the Flyers are only concerned with Martone’s development. If it results in a Calder win, or even a nomination, that will be the sign of a great season. If not, or if Martone finds the season to be a struggle somewhat, then nobody should hit the panic button.
Although there are others who could surprise, like Stenberg, Frondell, and Hutson, it appears for the time being that those two players will share most of the spotlight regarding being the top rookie of 2026-27. The two teams play each other three times over the season. The first meeting is Nov. 30 in Toronto while the final two meetings are part of a home-and-home series in early January: Jan. 7 in Philadelphia and Jan. 9 in Toronto. If both players are near the top of rookie scoring, those dates will be circled on the calendars and should be great head-to-head matchups.
Other betting sites seem to fall almost in line with the aforementioned ones, but there are one or two exceptions. When it comes to DraftKings, the gap between Martone and McKenna doesn’t exist, as both have the same odds for the Calder (+300) with Stenberg (+600), Frondell (+900), and Hutson (+900) at slightly longer odds. The same is true when it comes to BetRivers, with both Martone and McKenna in a dead heat (+225) with Stenberg (+600), Frondell (+750), and Hutson (+850) in third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. BetMGM has Martone as the top dog regarding the Calder (+250) with McKenna slightly behind (+350) with Stenberg (+700), Frondell (+900), and Hutson (+900) rounding out the top five. And Covers.com sees Martone as the front runner (+275) with McKenna not too far behind (+310).
Martone topping the list elsewhere in non-betting circles
Meanwhile, other pundits around the league are seemingly looking for Martone to continue what he did most of his 19-game regular season and playoff stint. The Athletic’s trio of writers — Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman, and Harman Dayal — put Martone atop their Top 20 list. Martone is also eligible for the Calder this coming season as he played under 25 games in his rookie year. “Martone’s tremendous showing in the NHL at the end of last season has to position him as the Calder favorite heading into this year,” Wheeler wrote. “He didn’t just look like he belonged, he looked like an immediate impact player and potential needle-mover for the Flyers’ ceiling.” The site added if Martone finds himself playing with teammates like Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny, and can amass points on the power play, then a 50-point to 60-point season isn’t that huge of a stretch.
Martone wasn’t the only Flyer who made the Top 20 list, as winger Alex Bump was ranked seventeenth on the list. Pronman noted Bump’s impact in his 17 games near the end of the year. Although the winger’s skating was not considered to be top tier, the site believed Bump’s “size, compete level, and finishing touch” could be enough to slot him easily into Philadelphia’s bottom six roles.
Martone’s was third for the Calder according to DobberHockey, with McKenna and Stenberg ahead of the Flyer forward. The site stated no other player in the running for the accolade had more of an impact last year than Martone, and he would be a wise choice when it came to fantasy drafts. And Daily Faceoff didn’t specify in terms of Calder nominees and faves, but in their Top 75 NHL-affiliated skater prospects, Martone was second to McKenna. “Blessed with arguably the best vision in the 2025 draft class, he possesses elite offensive instincts,” the site wrote. “His wrist shot is remarkable, and he processes the game at speed as well as any incoming rookie.”
Overall, Martone’s first 19 games should’ve done wonders for his confidence as well as for the team’s overall success. But an 84-game season can change a lot of predictions in September. Ideally, Martone has a great season, Matvei Michkov has a great season, Dan Vladar is rock solid, and the Flyers coast to a playoff spot in the Metropolitan. If Martone’s first 19 games are any kind of measuring stick, then he should be in the running or at least the conversation for a good chunk of 2026-27.
