Porter Martone’s mindset heading into Flyers training camp is exactly that: he’s not taking anything for granted.Even after a strong late-season debut (10 points in 9 regular-season games) and contributing in the playoffs, the 19-year-old right winger has been clear that he still needs to earn a full-time NHL job. At development camp he said things like: “I got a jumpstart when I got to come in at the end of the season, but there’s still a team to make and a job to earn… My mindset this offseason is to come earn a job on this team and just be an important part of this team next year.”
Yesterday at Rookie Camp, Martone says he was just hoping to crack the lineup, “Hopefully, I crack the lineup. I’m ready to go and be successful.”
Martone made a similar point when reflecting on choosing Michigan State instead of pushing for the NHL right after the 2025 draft: he thought he might crack a lineup then, but the college year got him more pro-ready.
That humble approach stands out because expectations around him are already high—he’s a Calder Trophy favorite in some preseason rankings after showing he can produce immediately and play with top players. Head Coach Rick Tocchet has also talked about tempering the hype so the pressure doesn’t overwhelm him.
In short, Martone’s “just hoping to crack the lineup” stance is classic him: mature, workmanlike, and focused on proving it every day rather than assuming a roster spot. With camp approaching, it’ll be interesting to see how that translates once the real competition starts.
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