The Philadelphia Flyers might have found their next cornerstone in Porter Martone, the 18-year-old power forward from the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads. Taken sixth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Martone brings a mix of size, skill, and edge. The qualities that fit snugly into the team’s well-known gritty culture.
Porter Martone Shares His Thoughts on Philadelphia Flyers’ Culture
“I’ve always known the Flyers as kind of a hard-nose organization; they put it all on the line and it’s something that I love to do. That’s the way I play,” Martone said following his selection.
Meant to be a Flyer. pic.twitter.com/kuz4xJotfo
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 28, 2025
Leading up to the draft, the Flyers were expected to chase a top center. But after a flurry of early picks claimed many top pivots, GM Danny Briere shifted focus. He chose to stick with his “best player available” strategy, and Martone checked every box.
“We would have preferred a center, but we felt we couldn’t pass up on a chance to bring a difference-maker like Porter Martone to the team,” Briere said.
Why Martone’s Playing Style Aligns With the Flyers’ Blueprint
Martone isn’t just a scorer; his reputation includes a strong two-way game and high hockey IQ. This past season, he gained valuable experience skating for Team Canada in both the World Juniors and the IIHF World Championship.
Team Canada captain Porter Martone shines in his second #U18MensWorlds.🇨🇦✨
Dive into his path from a dreamy kid to his pivotal role in the team and the 2025 NHL Draft.👍 @hockeycanada
Read full story at https://t.co/ldDBa42X8a ✍️https://t.co/8YivP1onSd” pic.twitter.com/WbU4IYKGVl
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 1, 2024
Sharing ice with NHL stars such as Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon gave Martone early exposure to pro-level play. “At the World Championships (playing) against NHL players… I think I proved that I can do that. I think I proved that I fit in,” he said. “But, I’m going to continue to get better every single day.”
GM Briere highlighted Martone’s maturity and physical readiness. Though they may not fast-track him into the NHL, the Flyers believe he’s close. “He’s pretty close to being ready,” Briere noted.
“I don’t know that it’s going to be the right thing to play him this year in the upcoming season, but we’ll see. If there’s one thing I would say in this draft, he’s pretty close to being the most ready out of that group,” he said.
Martone is no stranger to the Flyers’ locker room. He built rapport with Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Tyson Foerster during international tournaments. “All three of those guys were tremendous to me,” Martone said. “One thing I noticed over there is how much they loved being a Flyer, and how much they take pride in being a Flyer. … I can’t wait to be their teammate.”
Reports suggest the Flyers had internal debates between Martone and a couple of centers like Jack O’Brien and James Hagens. But after trading for Trevor Zegras earlier in the week, the organization found unity behind Martone’s name. Head coach Rick Tocchet was among those backing the decision.
Whether Martone debuts this season or later, he seems well-suited for the club’s long-term vision. With his competitive drive, size, and hockey instincts, Martone could be central to the Flyers’ future identity.
