HERSHEY – Although he had played in 19 NHL games, including 10 in the playoffs, Porter Martone had never been through the rigors of a Flyers training camp and preseason schedule before.
So the right wing was understandably excited to take part in his first exhibition game on Monday night against the Washington Capitals at the GIANT Center.
“Honestly, just excited to get back and play a game again,” he said after the morning skate at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “Summer’s awesome, you get to spend time with family but you start to get that itch again. You just want to get back to kind of a routine.”
Martone made the jump right from Michigan State to the Flyers last March, so this whole experience is something new to him.
He’s made it known he’s been keeping an eye on teammate Tyson Foerster to see if he can pick up any little tips as he enters his first full pro season.
“I think Tyson’s awesome,” Martone said. “I’ve gotten pretty close with him. Been hanging out a lot. I try to pick his brain as much as I can. He’s a guy who could score 40 goals but he can also be a third line guy who shuts down other team’s top lines every night.
“So I think he’s someone you can look at, he works extremely hard. He just does it the right way. He just cares about winning. That’s exactly what’s needed.”
Martone did enjoy his summer but he reportedly came to camp in top shape. Like the rest of the young players, he doesn’t want to be satisfied by what the team accomplished last year.
“I feel I’m ready to go,” he said. “Time to get back into the swing of an NHL schedule. Training camp has been great. It’s been a lot of competitiveness, uploading the systems. It’s pushing each other to be ready for opening night (Sept. 30 vs. Pittsburgh).”
>Knuble impressing coaches
Cole Knuble, the son of former Flyers star Mike Knuble, has been making his presence felt in training camp so far.
In Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage, he skated on a line with Foerster and Noah Cates, perhaps a sign he’s made a good impression with coaches so far.
Coach Rick Tocchet said some of Mike’s greatness might be rubbing off on his son.
“The team’s already kind of picked,” Tocchet said at the morning skate. “But when a guy comes in – and I shouldn’t say from out of nowhere – but a guy who’s elevated his game, his stock, it gives (general manager) Danny (Briere) a lot of options.
“I’m not saying he’s going to make our team, I don’t know. Any time a guy comes into camp and his growth keeps going, it just gives you a lot more options.”
Tocchet knows all about the elder Knuble and what he brought to the table. Cole seems to be following that path.
“I could see the pedigree early on, his dad was a hell of a player,” the coach said. “You could tell, he’s got a little bit of his dad in him. Just the smart part of the hockey. That was passed down to him. Mike did a good job with that.”
>Luchanko’s status
Tocchet was asked about the progress of center Jett Luchanko, who has seen brief action with the Flyers the past couple seasons.
He was scheduled to play in Monday night’s preseason game against the Caps.
“The growth of his game,” Tocchet said. “He’s really grown from last year. He’s shooting the puck more, trying to shoot the puck more. Not deferring as much. Obviously his skating is elite.”
The coach wants to see more of those shots.
“Being a pass guy, which is fine – but being that guy who can he get over the blue (line), one deke, get inside the slot and shoot it from there,” Tocchet said. “Rather than get over the blue, wait and see who’s open, I’d rather him get to his spot, then either shoot or pass. I think that gap is getting closer and closer and he’s making those decisions quicker.”
Luchanko has been back and forth with the Flyers was and traded in junior.
“I don’t know if he’s got a place to put his underwear,” Tocchet cracked. “He’s here, he’s there. I want him to go someplace when he can relax wherever it is and just settle down. I think that’s going to help him.”
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