Heading into the 2025 NHL draft, the Philadelphia Flyers and GM Danny Briere had a goal with the sixth overall pick; draft a center. During the beginning of the first (and hopefully last) ever decentralized draft, it became clear what was happening by the time the Flyers were up to make their selection. 

After the unsurprising first overall pick by the New York Islanders drafting defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the next four straight picks were centers. The list of centers included the rumored favorite for Philadelphia in Caleb Desnoyers, who went to Utah at fourth overall and Brady Martin, another rumored option for the Flyers who went fifth overall to Nashville. 

That left some surprising options at center left on the board, including James Hagens. However, with all of the centers being taken, that also left Porter Martone available. With the available centers for the Flyers, Briere felt the need to take the best player available left on the board, and although many would argue it would have been Hagens, he selected Martone. Hagens went to Boston with the seventh overall pick.

“The priority with pick No. 1 was to get the best player available,” Briere said after night one of the draft. “We said it all along, yeah we would have preferred a center, but we felt we couldn’t pass up on the chance to bring a difference maker like Porter Martone to the team.”

Let’s make one thing clear, Martone is a difference maker. The current captain of the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads is an all-around complete player on the ice. He has the power forward skill set, the making of a Matthew or Brady Tkachuk. He has the potential playmaking ability of a Mikko Rantanen, with 61 assists of his 98 points in 57 games in his draft year. 

Will he be a potential superstar in the making in the NHL? It’s possible, but that part is up to him.

Entering the draft, there were some, including myself, who felt that Martone was the closest prospect to being NHL ready outside of Schaefer. He quickly showed in the Flyers development camp why he was not only a first-round pick, but the sixth overall pick and the best winger in the draft class. 

Since he was drafted, Martone certainly left a great first impression with fans and Flyers management. 

“Off the ice, he fits in great,” Director of Player Development Riley Armstrong said. “He’s a really outgoing guy. He has that little bit of swag to him. He knows that he’s a good player. I think that’s a good thing. I think you want a player that has that confidence within himself.”

“To see his maturity, the way he handles himself around the group, around [the media]…He’s got some swagger in a good way,” assistant GM Brent Flahr said. “But he also is pretty aware of where he needs to get to physically in order to play, and not just play, be a top player.”

Martone certainly showed that confidence when speaking to the media following the development camp. At such a young age, Martone exemplifies why he is the current captain of the Steelheads with his maturity, and overall support of his teammates. 

“There are lots of good players here,” Martone said on Sunday. “There are guys that have played in the NHL, there are guys that have won national championships in college, guys who have won Memorial Cups. I think there’s a great prospect pool here.”

Although Martone has his mind set on making it to the NHL, he has options on the table. The first is even more possible especially with the recent news about Tyson Foerster. Foerster suffered an injury and subsequent infection at World Championships, and could be out long-term. Martone would give the Flyers a certain swagger, size, and jump that this team needs. 

Besides his playmaking ability, the 6’3”, 208-pound winger from Peterborough, Ontario potted 37 goals this year with Brampton in the regular season, and four more in 10 playoff games. Although the biggest forward on the Flyers roster is Owen Tippett at 6’1”, 210 lbs, he displays an entirely different skill set than Martone, focusing on his speed and shot. 

The Flyers do not have a player like Martone, and with him knocking on the door to the NHL and potentially multiple spots opening up, his chances increase that much more. It also helps his case that Philadelphia failed to sign KHL star Maxim Shabanov, who was forever rumored to sign with them, but signed with the New York Islanders.

Behind door number two is to continue his development, but the question is where would he want to play? He has the option to return to the OHL, where he can continue to be a difference-maker and has a legitimate chance to score over 100 points this year. He’s a beloved player in the Brampton locker room and community on and off the ice, and can make another run at the playoffs. 

The other option for development is to transfer to the NCAA. This is something that has not been an option before for major junior level hockey players in Canada, but now is. The most notable transfer to the NCAA is projected 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna, who also happens to be Connor Bedard’s cousin, who committed to Penn State University on Tuesday. 

The Nittany Lions are even more of a legitimate threat in the NCAA after making their first Frozen Four appearance in 2024-25. Now by adding McKenna, they can be a legitimate contender and a destination for eligible CHL players for the foreseeable future. It’s been rumored that Martone could make the move to Penn State as well. Just imagine a line combination of McKenna and Martone with another top winger.

To me, it would greatly benefit Martone’s game and Philadelphia’s future if Martone decides to play either in the OHL or the NCAA. It’s a similar mentality to Matvei Michkov. He’ll get here when he gets here. The Flyers are still another year or two away from becoming legitimate Stanley Cup playoff contenders, and the only way they will be more suited for the playoffs is if Martone is fully developed. 

If Martone makes the team, it won’t kill his development process either. However, it probably wouldn’t do wonders for him. If Martone plays in the NHL this upcoming 2025-26 season, he could score between 40-50 points. If he decides to wait at least one year to fully develop, become even stronger, and work on his skating, he will be a force to be reckoned with when he joins the Flyers in the 2026-27 season.

Briere and the Flyers will certainly help him make that decision, as they clearly see a very bright future for this soon to be NHLer. Since becoming the Flyers full-time GM, Briere has done a great job wanting to fully focus on player development and having each prospect become the very best of themselves by the time they make it to the NHL. 

The choice is up to Martone, his family, and his agent on what will be best for his future, whether it’s to become a rookie phenom in the making this upcoming fall, or continue to pursue the opportunity to strive for an OHL or even an NCAA championship before making the jump to the NHL.