Unlike most NHL drafts, there hasn't been a sure-fire first-overall pick all season long. Several talented prospects were part of the conversation, even if defenseman Matthew Schaefer is now the front-runner.
That includes forward Porter Martone, a player proving himself at the 2025 IIHF World Championship on Team Canada.
The 18-year-old is on a team full of NHL superstars, including Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. It's not a bad way to prove you can hold your own against the best of the best.
"It's huge just learning from these NHL guys," Martone said. "I think I've learned how they take care of their bodies and how they prepare for games. They are pros for a reason. They are the best in the world for a reason. Anything I could do to take tips from them, watch them. I've added things for myself that will help me in the long run."
Originally, the OHL's Brampton Steelheads captain was only set to practise with the team throughout the tournament and wasn't expected to play in any games.
Withstanding that fact, Martone still took the opportunity to be with Hockey Canada anyway, which impressed people around the program.
"To ask him to stay here when there was no commitment to him to get into our lineup," Canada coach Dean Evason said. "The maturity level to say yes. He doesn't care, he wants to stay here, he wants to learn, he wants to be a part of it regardless of if he plays."
With Bo Horvat out with an injury for the remainder of the tournament, Martone jumped into the lineup on Tuesday against Sweden and held his own against professional hockey players.
The Canadian coaching staff initially hesitated to play the young forward, but they quickly gained trust and confidence in him.
"As a staff, we talked about where he was at, how we thought his game was," said Evason. "Do we need to limit his playing time? Everybody said, 'No, he's holding his own, he's doing all the right things, he doesn't seem intimidated by the environment,' so we kept playing him."
Martone has speed and offensive pizzazz, yet he plays a physical brand of hockey, both traits making him an intriguing prospect.
As far as a scouting report goes, Martone believes he's a perfect fit for the modern NHL.
"I'm a big power forward who has a really good hockey IQ," Martone said. "I try to be a hard player to play against. You see the NHL playoffs right now, and it's hard, they play hard. I just try to go out there and be a hard player to play against. When I get a chance in the offensive zone, I can drain it."
When asking Martone if he deserves to be selected first overall, he stayed humble and made clear that whatever happens, he'll be content and happy to play for any organization that wants him.
"There are a lot of good prospects in this year's draft," Martone said. "I try to come to the rink every day and just focus on the process. A team is going to pick me for me, the person that I am, the player that I am.
"Who knows who's going to go one (first pick) this year, or who's going to go two, three, four, five. I just have to go in there with a positive attitude, and I'm going to get picked by a team that loves me."
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