2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Porter Martone

Let’s take a deeper look at what makes Martone such a promising prospect.

Diving Deeper:

Hockey IQ

Part of what makes Martone special is his vision and hockey IQ. He is often making the right plays and can be relied on both on and off the puck. His hockey IQ has helped him create offense and set other skaters up with high-danger chances before defenders have a chance to react.

Playmaking

Martone’s hockey IQ also helps his playmaking. Martone had 61 assists this past season and was able to create offense towards the net and set others up for high-danger chances. At the same time, he also has the skill to create chances for himself, which can keep opponents guessing.

“Martone’s game is much more finesse-based than most assume. His skill with the puck and his playmaking ability will make him a difference-maker, especially if he can increase his pace just a bit. Any mean streak he brings will be an added bonus.”

Tony Ferrari – The Hockey News – February 28th

Stickhandling

While it’s easy to look at Martone’s goal totals and classify him as a goal-scorer, there’s much more to his game, and his stickhandling is just as impressive. Martone protects the puck well, but also has slick moves that he’s used to fool goalies in his junior career. Martone’s skill with the puck helps him get through tight areas, which is especially useful since he doesn’t currently have the acceleration or foot speed to blow past opponents.

Comparables:

Martone is a unique prospect, so comparisons for him are slightly tougher, but the three below are the closest that we see.

Alex Tuch: Martone and Tuch have a fair bit in common. They are both big-bodied forwards who are strong on the forecheck and have a solid blend of physicality and skill. Martone has a lot of the offensive qualities that Tuch has and may even have further offensive capabilities.

Brady Tkachuk: Tkachuk is a name many scouts have thrown around when it relates to Martone, and for good reason. Martone works hard and has the potential to be a high-end power forward. Martone also plays well in and around the net, much like Brady.

Corey Perry: Martone also shows some resemblance to Corey Perry, and if he continues to grow in snarl, while still having the offensive skill, this could become a more accurate comparison. Perry, in his prime, was a skilled offensive contributor while also being tough to play against. Perry plays a mean game, and Martone definitely has the build and tenacity for some of the same.

Prospect Potential:

Porter Martone grades out as a top-line winger and should be contributing on the powerplay as well. His high hockey IQ should help him to be a 200-foot player who can play in all situations. He also has the tools to be an effective playoff performer.

Best Potential Fits:

Chicago Blackhawks: Martone could be an option for the Blackhawks at third overall, depending on who goes first and second overall. The Blackhawks have quite a few prospects with potential both up front and on the back-end, but Martone could be a great fit on the Blackhawks’ right wing. Offensive players who can support Bedard and help take the load off of him would be highly valuable. Bedard and Martone could be electric together, as both have the ability to create offense for others, but also the skill to finish on their chances.

Utah Mammoth: The Mammoth and Martone could be a great fit together. At fourth overall, the Mammoth may take the approach of ‘best available player’, and if Martone is still available when it’s their turn to pick, chances are he will be the ‘best available player’. The Mammoth have some skilled forwards in Cooley, Guenther, and Keller, but injecting more youth into their lineup will widen their competitive window as a team on the way out of their rebuild with the help of Martone and their other young prospects.

Nashville Predators: Now, if Martone falls to the Predators, I’m sure the pick will be made very quickly, but Martone would be a great fit with the Predators. The Predators struggled after signing both Stamkos and Marchessault this past season. The Predators have an older core, and if they want to avoid a rebuild in the near future, adding a player of Martone’s stature surely would help as he would be hitting his stride in the NHL as some of the older players near the end of their tenures with the Predators.

Stats via Elite Prospects