Flyers newcomer Porter Martone met with the media Monday afternoon to talk all about making the big jump to the NHL and his upcoming potential debut and what it means to be joining a team in the middle of a very competitive playoff race.

While realizing he won’t be winning an NCAA championship with Michigan State in the coming weeks at the Frozen Four, he’s already moved onto the next chapter.

“Obviously it was tough getting beat out, you know we had expectations there at Michigan State and go on a deep run and hopefully make the Frozen Four,” Martone said regarding the team’s defeat. “I loved our game and it was an unfortunate loss to Wisconsin, they’re a really good hockey team. That night I just tried to spend it with my teammates, our seniors who were moving on. I felt we really created a brotherhood there at Michigan State and I love that place so much. Then when I woke up in the morning, you get thinking to what’s the next step. So to have the opportunity to come here with the Flyers and help them in a playoff push, it was a no-brainer for me and I’m really excited to be here.”

Martone on joining the Flyers in the middle of the playoff push

Martone, who said realizing his dream of playing in the NHL and signing the contract was “surreal,” wasn’t sure when he would make his Flyers debut, but said whenever it was his parents would be in attendance for it.

He also said yesterday included getting a phone call from Travis Konecny as well as text messages from Tyson Foerster and Travis Sanheim congratulating him and welcoming him to the club. It was a bit of a whirlwind but he wouldn’t have it any other way, particularly seeing the Flyers defeat the Stars for a much-needed victory.

“Just getting to the rink and meeting everyone last night was special, and to come away with a big overtime win was even better,” Martone said. “Just seeing the room after, everyone was excited, that was a good Dallas team over there, and just being able to get a win and two points is huge. You just see how much fun they’re having, and how tight that group is. I’m excited to join it.”

Although Martone said he’ll help the club in any way he can when he gets the nod to play, he’s been keeping tabs on the team’s ups and downs all season. Right now he feels it’s the best time of the year as Philadelphia tries to catch teams ahead of them for a wildcard or Metropolitan Division spot.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’ve been following the Flyers all season. Right now it’s the most exciting time of the year and having that push to get into the playoffs. You don’t want to look too far into the standings but you know they’re right there. Just being able to come into this group. I know the Flyers have really got a great room down there from the things I’ve heard. I’m excited to join and just help any way I can.”

What Michigan State did for Martone’s development

Martone also talked about the 2025 Flyers development camp and the decision facing him at the time. After being drafted sixth overall, some suspected he would make the jump directly to the National Hockey League. However, after discussing things with the Flyers, all parties involved believed the college route was the best road to take for 2025-26. Martone lauded both Michigan State and the Flyers for how the situation was handled.

“You know the Flyers were great throughout the whole process,” he said. “Thinking back to last development camp and just trying to make a decision about what I was going to do and what was going to help me for my hockey career. And making the decision to go to college and go to Michigan State, I look back and I think that’s the best decision that I ever made about going there to Michigan State. I have a ton of thanks to Adam Nightingale and the whole staff there. They did a tremendous job developing me. They developed me and I think I learned so much as a player and in the gym learning pro habits. I really learned what it’s like to be part of a winning culture and a winning team there and I think that’s something I can bring here.

“The Flyers were great with me when I was there. The whole development staff, they probably made 10 different trips to see Shane (Vansaghi) and me play there. I did video with Riley Armstrong every single week, what they wanted to see and what they wanted me to improve on. I thank both sides the Michigan State Spartans and Philly, they did a great job in my development.”

Martone also said he discovered who he was as a player during his season as a Spartan, with coach Adam Nightingale pushing him into areas of the ice you need to go to be successful at the pro level. And to pick up the pace too.

“I think I just really found my identity as a player, and who I need to be to be successful,” Martone said. “Coach Nightingale really forced on me to play below the hash marks, play in front of the net. I think another thing he told me when I got there was if I wanted to play at the NHL level you got to play at a faster pace, you have to get faster. That’s something that I really worked on there, the college game is a lot faster than in junior, so just kind of get that transition to the next step from junior to the NHL was college which was a perfect stepping stone. That’s something that I worked on a lot with the strength coach and at practice. I practiced four times a week and the focus was on getting faster, getting stronger, and being a competitive player. I think that’s something that I kind of took the next step towards this year”

The newcomer — who has gained 12 pounds over the season at Michigan State and lost three per cent body fat — said the Flyers were in constant contact with him during the season. Whether it was phone calls from Patrick Sharp or John LeClair, meals with one or both when they visited or took in a game, or weekly video sessions with Riley Armstrong, Philadelphia never closed any lines of communcation.

Martone learning to walk that fine line

Part of Martone’s development on the ice also involved finding that very thin line between helping his team win without crossing it and taking penalties. It’s something a lot of players have struggled with, but Martone again cited Nightingale as being pivotal in trying to avoid going over the edge.

“I think I learned how to be on that fine line,” he said. “I don’t want to be in the penalty box the whole game because I think I’m more valuable on the ice. That’s something that Michigan State did a great job with me too. Adam Nightingale said it’s good to manage your emotion but you just can’t go over that line. You got to be a hard player to play against, but it’s got to be at the proper time and that’s something that I learned a lot. I felt like I had a target on my back a lot in college this year, you just got to manage your emotions. You know you don’t want to take that out of a player and take that out of my game but it’s something that I can manage, just continue to be on the ice and help the team win.”

On what he expects as he’s adjusting to the NHL

Martone sounded cool, calm, and collected Monday. But he knows there’s a learning curve at the NHL level that he’s just dipping his toe into. He says he’s going to have to “keep an open mind” while learning every day.

“I’m coming into a room full of NHL players, NHL coaches, so I don’t think it’s just going to happen overnight,” he said. “I think I’m going to have to learn. I think this group is going to be perfect for me to teach me the ropes. Just in my first skate there kind of teaching me the O-zone system a little bit, and D-zone as well. Just continue to learn. I think I’m a smart hockey player so I’ll be able to pick up. Just trust my instincts, and trust the way I play, and I should be able to fit in.”

He also says that while college hockey was the perfect step in his road to the Flyers, he’s going to have to adjust to playing against faster, harder, and better competition than he did in the NCAA.

“Coming to pro it’s another step, everyone on the ice is a lot faster, everything is more clean, everyone knows when they’re on their right spot, definitely some older people,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be a lot harder. Just coming in it’s different. In college you’re in the locker room with older guys, most guys on my team were 25 years old. It’s just something you get used to. Everyone in that locker room has been very generous to me. I feel in the hockey culture, everyone in the locker room, you always get along. Everyone can inspire the team regardless of the age.”

But for now Martone is just biding his time and hoping to get into the lineup, hoping to help the Flyers win down the stretch while getting a taste for the pro game. But one thing is certain: he’s not hesitant to get started.

“I’m a Spartan for life but now it’s the next step as well in my pro career. I’m 100 per cent, I feel fresh, and I’m ready to go.”