Porter Martone Could Have Flyers’ Best Rookie Season

Gagne earned the coaching staff’s trust and played the sixth-most games of any forward, and made good on his chances with five goals and five assists; the former tied for third on the Flyers as they reached the Eastern Conference Final. Like both, Martone has already had some playoff success, although most of that came early in Philadelphia’s run. The Flyers hope both he and the team produce deep into May as Gagné and Boucher did about a quarter-century ago.

Eric Lindros

No Flyers rookie has had a more hyped up rookie season than Eric Lindros; not even Martone can change that. From his status as a first-overall pick to the massive package the Flyers sent to the Quebec Nordiques to acquire him and the arbitration case they won against the New York Rangers to make it official.

The signs of greatness appeared early, with 41 goals and 75 points ranking second and third on the Flyers, respectively, in only 61 games. However, this was 1992-93, which meant offense was booming across the NHL. Lindros didn’t even earn a Calder nomination that season, finishing behind Teemu Selänne (record-breaking 76 goals as a rookie), Joé Juneau (70 assists and 102 points), and Félix Potvin (NHL-best 2.50 GAA).

Still, Lindros’ talent was evident from the jump. He quickly climbed to 97 points in 65 games in year two and 78 points in a lockout-shortened year three when he won the Hart Trophy. A reminder that the Calder is a great award to win, but it’s only one season of ideally a long career.

Ron Hextall & Pete Peeters

Ron Hextall and Pete Peeters had their rookie seasons seven years apart, but the similarities between them are why they’re grouped. Not only were both goaltenders, but both made it to the Stanley Cup Final at the start of their careers.

Peeters split the net with veteran Phil Myre, but the 22-year-old greatly outplayed the incumbent, with his .898 SV% well above Myre’s .875 mark. The two split time in the playoffs, and Myre actually turned things completely around with a .920 SV%. Peeters played 13 games to Myre’s six, though, and held his own with a .902 mark. He was sensational in the second round against the New York Rangers, allowing one goal or less in four of five contests, including a Game 3 shutout. He also played five of six games in the Stanley Cup Final.

Of any Flyers rookie season, Ron Hextall has the best case to deserve the Calder. There were no kid gloves for the 1982 sixth-round pick in the 1986-87 season. He led the NHL with 37 wins and a .902 SV%, which wasn’t enough to beat an 84-point performance from Luc Robitaille for Rookie of the Year, but made him the third different Flyer in as many seasons to be nominated for the Vezina Trophy and the second of that bunch to be named the NHL’s top goaltender.

Hextall continued his strong play in the playoffs, bumping his SV% up to .908 and posting a pair of shutouts. He gave the Flyers a chance in the Stanley Cup Final against the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers, allowing three goals or fewer in every game except the opener and holding on for two one-goal victories. It was a performance for the ages and a high bar (particularly in the playoffs) for Martone to clear.

Martone’s Chances

Expecting Martone to play a key role in a Stanley Cup Final run is almost certainly asking way too much of the Flyers, let alone the 19-year-old. But his existing NHL experience gives him a healthy leg up on the competition of a talented 2026-27 rookie class.

His 19 NHL games are more than any other Calder front-runner. Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, generally viewed as his strongest competition , haven’t played in the NHL. It may take a while for both to earn top-line minutes, especially McKenna on a Toronto Maple Leafs team counting on a turnaround. Martone, meanwhile, often played with Trevor Zegras at 5-on-5 on what was listed as Philadelphia’s top line, even in the playoffs.

It probably won’t be as good a season as Hextall’s in terms of historic impact. But it could be enough to bring home some individual hardware and assure Flyers fans that he can be a part of a team that can earn some itself in the future.