The secrets to Porter Martone's instant success with the Flyers - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — The concourse of the Philadelphia Flyers' home arena is an abundance of orange. It's also a living timeline, with each fan's jersey marking a different era in the franchise's history, from their last Stanley Cup in 1975 to the present. Names like Clarke, Hextall, Lindros, Giroux and Couturier are on the back.

But Flyers fan Brett Yetter opted for the future when he purchased his jersey. He walked into Game 4 of their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins wearing the name and number of Porter Martone, who has spent only nine regular-season games and four playoff games with the Flyers.

Like Yetter, Martone is 19 years old. Unlike many NHL rookies, Martone jumped from the NCAA into a Stanley Cup playoff race and became an instant sensation in Philadelphia.

«I had to get one. I've had no hope in this city in, what, 10 years? [Matvei] Michkov, I got instantly. Martone, I got instantly,» Yetter said. «Just give me hope. I'll give you money.»

In fact, Martone has the NHL's highest-selling jersey since the Stanley Cup playoffs began two weeks ago. Those sales jumped 1,174% after Martone had winning goals in each of his first two playoff games, as the Flyers attempt to win their first postseason series since 2020.

«This is the best time of the year. The stakes are high,» Martone said. «It's been exciting times in Philly. And it's exciting that this early in my career I get a taste of playoff hockey.»

Martone was selected No. 6 by the Flyers in June. The Peterborough, Ontario, native fit the organizational purview: a power forward with a playmaker's hands and an antagonistic streak befitting of a Flyer. More than a few scouts, analysts and coaches have compared his game to that of one-time NHL MVP Corey Perry, both