Porter Martone: His coaches are already envisioning his future in Montreal

Porter Martone continues to climb the draft rankings thanks to his impressive start to the season. In 19 games, the captain of the Brampton Steelheads has already racked up 38 points, averaging 2 points per game. Many Habs fans are already dreaming of seeing this 6-foot-3 winger don the Canadiens’ jersey in the upcoming draft.

Daniel Sisca coached the young phenom during his time with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at the U16 AAA level in 2021-22. From the very first day of training camp, Sisca recognized that he was working with a future NHL star. « No one loves hockey more than Porter Martone. Beyond his remarkable talent, his determination to be the best on the ice every shift is what allows him to succeed wherever he goes, » explains the coach. He believes Martone has the tools to become the modern-day Corey Perry, due to his versatility, ability to disrupt opponents, and hockey IQ.

The 18-year-old prospect, for his part, compares himself to Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers. Whether through his offensive game or his physicality, Martone enjoys making his presence felt in every game. He aspires to build a reputation as a player who shines in the playoffs, much like Tkachuk.

Thus far, Martone has risen to the occasion during key moments in his young career. His impressive performance of 7 goals, 8 assists, and 15 points in just 7 games at the OHL Cup with the Canadiens Jr. is a testament to that. However, one of his teammates performed even better in that tournament: 2024 Montreal first-round pick, Michael Hage.

« Contrary to what some might think, Porter Martone and Michael Hage never played on the same line or the same power play unit. Each led their own line and made their teammates better. There was a certain internal competition between the two, but it was very healthy, and it pushed them to never take their foot off the gas, » admits Sisca, who coached the Toronto Jr. program for two seasons. The coach notes that Hage and Martone developed strong chemistry off the ice as well and train together in the offseason: « They skate with me during the summer. They still have a very solid bond, » he says.

Montreal

Daniel Sisca does not hide his desire to see two of his former stars play for the same NHL team: « It would be very special to see both of them play together again and start their journey on the same team at the NHL level. With the way Montreal is trending right now, it’s a real, high possibility that Porter could be a Hab », says Sisca.

Martone however confirmed to Toutsurlehockey that he has not yet had any official discussions with a Canadiens’ representative. « It’s a long season. There’s still a lot of time before the draft. I’ll just keep doing my best on the ice and control what I can control, » explains the captain of the Brampton Steelheads. The young prospect is aware, though, that many Habs fans are already keeping a close eye on him, hoping to see him end up in Montreal.

For Martone, it’s still too early to get distracted by what might happen on draft night: « I obviously pay a lot of attention to everything related to the NHL, but it’s too early to look at the overall rankings and think about where I might end up. For now, I’m focused on winning in Brampton this year. Once the draft gets closer, I’ll start paying more attention to it, » adds Martone.

His former U16 AAA coach is not the only one envisioning a future in Montreal for Porter Martone. The current general manager and head coach of the Steelheads, James Richmond, is also aware of the possibility that his captain could make his way to the Belle Province in the coming months. Richmond is also excited about the idea of seeing two former Steelheads potentially playing together in the big league: « Owen Beck is already in the Canadiens’ organization, and things are going really well for him. It would be very special to see these two guys reunited in Montreal, » says Richmond. According to him, many NHL executives will undoubtedly be seduced by Porter Martone’s character. The question remains: Will Kent Hughes be one of them?

Character and leadership

Martone had long been under the radar of James Richmond and the Steelheads. Although the team was unable to select him during the 2022 OHL Priority Draft due to strong interest from the Sarnia Sting, Richmond never gave up on the idea of adding him to his roster. Six months after the draft, the Steelheads traded their then-captain, Ethan Del Mastro, in exchange for Martone and a pick.

« There was a lot of interest in (Ethan) Del Mastro around the league, but Porter was the player we had targeted for a long time, » admits Richmond, who took over the organization in 2017. He had been closely monitoring the prospect on the ice for several years, also paying close attention to his character and family life. Martone’s leadership qualities were already evident at a young age. Now the captain of the Steelheads, Martone also wore the « C » during the U18 tournament with Team Canada and was named captain of the CHL team for the Prospects Challenge, a two-game tournament featuring the top North American players eligible for the upcoming draft.

« He’s highly respected by his teammates. He leads by example both on and off the ice. He wants to make a difference and lead his teammates as much as he can, » says Richmond, clearly pleased with the outcome of the trade. « He’s one of the best players in franchise history, and we’re lucky to have him. Over the years, we’ve had many high-end players, several first-round picks, but Porter is right up there with the best, and he just turned 18, » concludes the Steelheads’ coach and general manager.

World Juniors

The holiday season is inextricably linked to the World Junior Championship for passionate hockey fans, and Porter Martone hopes to be part of the tradition this winter in Ottawa. Martone believes he has a good chance of making the team if he can maintain his current pace over the next month.

« It would mean the world to play for the World Junior team. Should be cool to play on home ice this year in Ottawa so hopefully I can crack the lineup to just help the team win the gold medal”, he admits. « I remember always having a big party at my house on Boxing Day with all my family members. We would go skating on the outdoor rink behind my house and then go watch the World Juniors. »

Hailing from Peterborough, Porter Martone particularly recalls the standout performances of Barrett Hayton, who grew up in the same neighborhood and led Team Canada to gold as captain in 2020: « It was really special. I have so many memories from that tournament, and I hope to create even more as a player this year, » says Martone.