Tom Izzo has been known to tell players who are NBA ready to pursue their dreams and not to come back for another season even if they wanted to. Adam Nightingale apparently took that page out of the Izzo book of Hall of Fame coaching this offseason.
Izzo famously told Jaren Jackson Jr. back after that 2017-18 season that he needed to go to the NBA and he wasn’t going to let him come back for a sophomore year.
Nightingale may have just had his Jaren Jackson Jr.-type moment this offseason with Porter Martone. The freshman sensation had already been drafted, but he had to decide if he wanted to sign with the Flyers after a disappointing finish to Michigan State’s season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Granted, when student athletes lose heartbreaking games like the one Martone lost to Wisconsin in round two, they’re more likely to want to return to complete some unfinished business.
That’s apparently what Martone felt following the Wisconsin loss, telling his coach that he just had the best year of his life and he didn’t want to leave. Nightingale’s answer? You need to leave.
“He’s like, ‘This was the best year of my life. I loved it here. I don’t wanna leave.’ I was like, ‘Well, Marty, you need to leave—you’re ready.’”
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) April 22, 2026
MSU Hockey Coach Adam Nightingale Discusses Conversations With Porter Martone as He Joined the Flyers. #IgniteTheOrange
📸: Bruce… pic.twitter.com/ol1X2f58CB
Nightingale did sneak in a “you can stay if you want” but the overall message was that he probably wasn’t going to let Martone turn down the NHL when he has nothing left to prove.
Returning despite having the NHL waiting is something that isn’t new to the Nightingale era as Trey Augustine decided to play two extra years after many thought he was going to leave following his freshman season. Goaltenders, however, are a little different and he was always going to have to climb the ladder in the Red Wings organization regardless of when he left.
I’m sure Spartan fans probably would have liked if Nightingale let Martone stay, but it’s clear that he made the right decision.
Porter Martone made the right choice
On Wednesday night, Martone extended his points streak to an astonishing nine games with an assistant in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. With this win, the Flyers took a commanding 3-0 lead in the series and it looks like they’re going to win their first playoff series since 2020.
Martone has played a major role in this effort.
When Martone joined the team, the Flyers had less than a 30 percent chance to make the playoffs. Since that 0-2 start when he joined the squad, Philadelphia is 9-1 with a 3-0 playoff series lead over the rival Penguins. Martone has scored a point in nine straight games and he has 13 points since signing with the organization three weeks ago.
It’s pretty obvious that Martone made the right choice, and his departure and immediate success will actually help Nightingale in the long run with recruiting.
Both sides won here.
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