Martone has fans on both sides of 1st-Round series between Flyers, Penguins
“I told Danny and ‘Jonesy’ that he was going to be a good player. I wanted them to draft him,” Konecny mentioned. “I wanted him to be a Flyer right when I left there. … I loved him.”
The Flyers used the No. 6 choose within the 2025 draft to pick Martone. And now all of the love Konecny had for Martone is spreading all through the Philadelphia area.
Since debuting March 31, two days after signing a three-year, entry-level contract, the 19-year-old has energized the Flyers with 10 factors (4 objectives, six assists) and 32 pictures on purpose in 9 video games.
“I just kind of hopped in, learned the systems in one day,” Martone mentioned. “(The coaches) did a great job with me, talking about the systems that are in place. I’ve learned every single day, and the guys here have done a great job.”
Martone mentioned the muse for that success was laid this season at Michigan State, the place he led the Spartans with 25 objectives and 50 factors in 35 video games.
“I just really found my identity as a player and who I need to be successful,” he mentioned. “Coach (Adam) Nightingale really forced on me to play below the hash marks, play in front of the net. I think another thing that he told me when I got there is if I want to play at the NHL level, I’m going to have to play at a faster pace, I’m going to have to get faster, and that’s something that I really worked on there.”
At 6-foot-3, 208 kilos as an 18-year-old, Martone dominated the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, with 98 factors (37 objectives, 61 assists) in 57 video games with Brampton.
He thought he was working exhausting, however his first few days of preseason observe at Michigan State confirmed him what exhausting work really was.
“I think he had a hard time doing it through the first couple weeks of practice,” Nightingale mentioned. “There was simply an adjustment for him.
“Playing like a power forward, you’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to be heavy on the puck and you’ve got to move your feet. You’ve got to be able to play with some pace and get to the inside, not play on the outside, and protect the puck. Really be great from the top of the circles down. I thought he did a really good job.”
While the teaching workers labored with Martone on the ice, the off-ice work was led by Michigan State director of athletic efficiency Will Morlock. With 4 days every week of observe and fitness center time, Morlock’s function is important for this system.
And Martone purchased proper in.
“He kind of is the mastermind behind all the work,” Martone mentioned. “He does so much for that program. And just talking to him, it was, we want to put on the right weight and the right strength. … He made a program for me, and we kind of went along with it the whole year.”
Martone mentioned the consequence was him ending the season eight kilos heavier whereas dropping 4 % of his physique fats.
“That’s something that I needed and something that I noticed a big difference, just being able to have more endurance in games and be able to last longer,” he mentioned.
