Porter Martone, the Flyers’ sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is absolutely lighting it up as a freshman forward for the No. 1-ranked Michigan State Spartans this season. The 19-year-old Canadian (born Oct. 26, 2006) committed to MSU in July after a monster junior year with the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads, where he racked up 98 points (37G, 61A) in 57 games as team Captain.
His decision to go the NCAA route over jumping straight to pro has paid off big time so far, accelerating his development into a more complete, multi-faceted scorer.Quick Stats Snapshot (as of Nov. 18, 2025).
Martone leads the Spartans in scoring through 10 games, helping MSU to a dominant 9-1-0 start (including a weekend sweep of Notre Dame). He currently has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.
That +11 rating in just 10 games is absurd—projections have him on pace for a +46 over a full 38-game schedule, showcasing elite even-strength dominance. He’s evolved his game at MSU, blending his signature power-forward physicality (63, 205 lbs) with sharper skating, playmaking, and finishing touch. Scouts note his vision pops less in MSU’s linear system but still shines in setups, and his goal-scoring has doubled in efficiency from juniors.
- Nov. 15-16 vs. Notre Dame: Multi-goal hero in both games of the sweep. Scored twice Friday (including a power-play snipe) for a 4-1 win, then added one more Saturday in a 3-0 shutout—three goals total, pushing MSU to 9-1.
- Earlier Hot Streak: By late October, he was at 9 points (3G, 6A) in six games; by early November, 11 points (4G, 7A) in eight. He’s been a setup man too, with three assists over one weekend alone.
MSU coach Adam Nightingale has a knack for developing NHL talent (they’re loaded with seven draft picks on the roster), and Martone fits right in as a top-line driver. If he keeps this up, Philly’s future looks even brighter.
Alex Bump
Alex Bump, the Flyers’ fifth-round pick (133rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, wrapped up a stellar sophomore season at Western Michigan University in 2024-25, earning First Team All-American honors and leading the Broncos to their first-ever Frozen Four appearance. The 21-year-old Minnesota native (born Nov. 20, 2003) exploded for 23 goals and 47 points in 40 games, showcasing his blend of sniper’s touch, physicality (6’2″, 200 lbs), and two-way reliability that helped WMU advance to the NCAA championship game. His development has been meteoric—from a 36-point freshman year to a Hobey Baker contender—drawing rave reviews from scouts for his improved defensive detail and willingness to battle in high-traffic areas.
That breakout propelled him straight to the pros, as he signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers just after the Frozen Four in April 2025. Since then, Bump has been assigned to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he’s making an immediate impact as a rookie forward amid a strong start to the 2025-26 season. Through 15 games (as of Nov. 18), he’s notched 4 goals and 13 points while posting a +5 rating, contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. His goal-scoring clip (0.50 G/GP) ranks him among the Phantoms’ leaders, and he’s already earned two GWG nods, including a clutch overtime tally in a 3-2 win over the Hershey Bears on Nov. 9.
Denver Barkey
Denver Barkey, the Flyers’ third-round pick (95th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, is indeed heating up as a rookie winger for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL this 2025-26 season.
The 20-year-old Ontario native (born April 27, 2005) signed his entry-level deal in March 2024 after captaining the OHL’s London Knights to a Memorial Cup title, where he posted 82 points (25G, 57A) in 50 regular-season games plus 27 points in 15 playoff contests.
At 5’10 and 171 lbs, Barkey’s game is all about elite motor, deceptive edgework, and playmaking flair—think a pint-sized Travis Konecny with better vision—though he’s bulking up to handle pro physicality. After a slow start adjusting to the AHL’s speed (just 3 points in his first 10 games), he’s exploded for 6 points (3G, 3A) over his last three outings, fueling the Phantoms’ surge to a 9-4-1-1 record and third place in the Atlantic Division.
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