ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Sometimes teams feel they got lucky when a top-five rated player drops a bit and falls into their lap.
In the Flyers’ case on Friday night in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, right wing Porter Martone – who was rated No. 3 overall by The Hockey News – was still around when the Flyers picked at No. 6.
Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere wasted no time snapping up the 6-foot-3 Martone, who last season posted 98 points in 57 games for Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League.
And, perhaps with Flyers new head coach Rick Tocchet in mind, the team paid attention to the 74 penalty minutes Martone accrued.
Then the Flyers made some waves by trading their other two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 31) to Pittsburgh for the Penguins’ No. 12 selection.
With that pick, the Flyers chose the 6-foot-5 center Jack Nesbitt.
Right after the Martone pick, Briere said the Peterborough, Ont. native had plenty to offer.
“(He has) a combination of size, skill, vision,” Briere said at the team’s draft headquarters at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. “We’re very excited that he fell to us at No. 6.”
As for Martone’s fandom with the Flyers, he told Briere and a national TV audience it’s been going on for some time.
“I can’t wait to be a Flyer,” the Peterborough, Ont. native said. “I’ve got a Claude Giroux poster in my basement and I’ve got a Flyers jersey. I’m very excited.”
Martone’s dad, Mike, was a bruising defenseman who was drafted by Buffalo but never quite made it to the NHL.
One scout said Porter “put the whole package together and has the potential to be the quintessential power forward.”
At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Martone should have no trouble fitting into the Flyers’ franchise-long theme of always establish a physical presence.
In the OHL Top Prospects Game, Porter notched a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight).
“He’s a skilled guy who can play it any way you want,” an NHL scout said. “He’s physical. He’s hard to get away from the net.”
Martone had plenty to say during a media Zoom call.
He had been involved in some meetings with the Flyers and had a hunch they might have interest.
“I definitely had some good meetings in Philly,” he said. “I was very happy and honored to be selected by Philly. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Flyers organization. I can’t wait to get started there.”
Is there a player that Martone models his game after? He mentioned Anaheim’s Corey Perry. The Hockey News compares him to Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, who just won his second Stanley Cup.
Martone brought up the name Wayne Simmonds, who is no stranger to Flyers fans. He played a very physical game and knew when to pick his spots.
“I loved the way he played,” Martone said.
The Flyers are hoping Martone winds up playing the same style in the NHL.
As for Nesbitt, he muscled his way around the OHL, posting 74 penalty minutes in 65 games, along with 64 points. Another Tocchet-type player.
Nesbitt said: “I feel very honored to have an opportunity and I’m excited to get going.”
Briere added: “First of all the center position was critical for us, we wanted to improve. “Big, left-shot center with the skill.”
President Keith Jones was all smiles on a Zoom call.
“Just what the Flyers need,” he said. “We’re ‘Flyer-ed’ up about it. We love the way he plays the game. Danny mentioned the grit. He’s got the high-end skills to go with that. We just think he’s going to develop into an outstanding player for us.”
Like Martone, Nesbitt believes he can be a good fit for the Flyers.
Nesbitt said improving his skating will be his No. 1 priority in the near future.
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