Philadelphia Flyers fans have been eager to get a glimpse at first-round draft selection Porter Martone at the club’s practice facility decked out in orange and black.
But it turns out there’s already evidence of him rocking Flyers gear at a team practice from a long, long time ago.
Martone revealed after Wednesday’s first on-ice session of development camp that he took a photo with Flyers great Wayne Simmonds after practice when he was a child.
Fittingly, Simmonds was on the ice to witness Martone’s first practice as a Flyer.
Talk about coming full circle.
“Just after practice, [Simmonds] walked off the ice, and I was here, and we got a photo. It’s pretty cool when you get to see people you idolized when you’re a kid, and now you’re working with them. They’re part of your development staff to try to get you a better hockey player,” said Martone.
“We had, I think, like, 50 kids just banging on the glass the whole practice, and him and a couple others kind of took time of their day to come say hi to us, take a couple photos.
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“I think that’s a big thing as an NHL player, being able to give back to the community, give back to little kids who look up in those footsteps, and now that I’m here, I want to make sure I do that to kids and try to make everyone’s day, maybe a positive or a little bit better.”
Martone, now 18, was among the most productive players selected in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, logging 37 goals and 98 points in just 57 games for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads. Like Simmonds, Martone is a big-bodied winger, but the similarities mostly end there. Martone doesn’t play as physically as Simmonds did in his prime, but he does offer excellent playmaking abilities and a strong hockey IQ.
Martone would be a welcome addition on the Flyers, and he may not need to wait long to crack the roster, especially given Tyson Foerster’s status as he recovers from an elbow infection.
With a strong camp, Flyers fans could see Martone make his debut as early as the season opener.
“My mindset is to play in the NHL next year. If the management staff here thinks otherwise, that’s when you kind of have the talk with my agent and me, but right now, my goal is to make the NHL and have a big summer. Really gain some strength in the lower body, then come into camp and try to earn my spot. But for me, I want to go and I want to play a full regular season in the NHL next year,” he said.
