(Photo Credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

While fans hope that the Boston Bruins will land a long-term first-line center in the National Hockey League Entry Draft this summer, at seventh overall, that unfortunately may not be possible. It seems unlikely that Anton Frondell, Michael Misa, James Hagens, or Caleb Desnoyers will be available when the Bruins are on the clock in June. What if Boston’s best chance at adding a top line talent through the draft this summer is on the wing?

Enter Porter Martone. While the Peterborough, Ontario, native is not a center, he is extremely talented and produces at a high level. The captain of the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Steelheads, Martone, put up 98 points in 57 games this season, good for seventh league-wide. He’s got a release that should translate to the NHL, posting back-to-back 30-goal seasons in the OHL. Martone doesn’t just put the puck in the back of the net; he’s an excellent passer, creating quality chances for his teammates. He set a career high for himself with 61 assists this season, leading the Steelheads. At 6’3″, 205, Martone already has a frame that should help him transition to the NHL level.

While the Bruins employ arguably the best right-wing in the world in David Pastrnak, drafting Martone would give the Bruins an embarrassment of riches on the right side of the ice. Having two high-end point producers on two different lines could help a Bruins team that lacks point-producing centers. However, how likely is that to happen?

Martone is ranked fourth by both Bob McKenzie and Craig Button of TSN. He’s ranked sixth amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. With Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa making up the consensus first and second overall selections, it seems that Martone’s standing is very much up in the air. He could go as high as third overall to Chicago, and could fall to as low as Seattle at eight. It seems that the top six will most likely be a combination of Martone, both Schaefer & Misa, James Hagens, Caleb Desnoyers, and Anton Frondell. However, rumors have been swirling about the potential rise of Brady Martin, which would interrupt that from happening.

Where Martone will play next year is still a mystery. An October 2006 birthday, Martone has one more year of OHL eligibility and could return to the Steelheads. There have also been credible rumors that he could go the NCAA route, with the Penn State Nittany Lions believed to be interested in his services, as well as other schools. His immediate future may depend ultimately on who selects him this summer.

While Boston hopes to land their top-line center of the future in this year’s draft, if a talent like Martone is available at seventh overall, they would be wise to take a chance on him. Wingers of Martone’s profile are very hard to find on the free agent or trade market, and in the rare cases that they do become available, they go for a king’s ransom. While it’s unlikely Martone would ever reach the ceiling of Pastrnak, he could be an excellent second-line option for the Bruins for the next decade.