Flyers’ Cates: ‘I know what I am as a player’

One of the primary issues the Flyers have faced as they navigate the rebuild is consistency, finding players who can embody the identity the team wants to have night in and night out. Finding 20 players who can do that is the challenge, but it starts with small steps.

The Flyers feel they have found one of those pieces in forward Noah Cates, who just re-signed with the team on a four-year deal with a $4 million AAV last week.

“I think it’s great term in terms of where I’ll be at, some prime years for me. Just kind of that security and knowing that I’ll be in Philly for the next four years and having a bit of a runway with where we want to go and where we want to be,” Cates said on Wednesday in a Zoom press conference. “It’s just a great contract and I’m super excited for it.”

Cates got a brief taste of the NHL in the 2021-22 season, playing in his first 16 games and scoring five goals and nine points. His rookie season in 2022-23 as a successful one, a full 82 games with 13 goals and 38 points, certainly not bad for a 2017 fifth-round pick. 

The following season in 2023-24 was marred by injury. Cates missed 22 games with a fractured foot after blocking a shot. He finished the season with just six goals and 18 points in 59 games.

So 2024-25 was very much a prove-it year with his RFA status pending. And it didn’t start the way Cates wanted. He was essentially the 13th forward, opening the season among the healthy scratches. Once Cates made it into the lineup permanently, he became one of the most relied-upon players in the lineup. In 78 games, he scored 16 goals and had 37 points. 

More importantly, he played a primary role defensively, handling top-line minutes at times and forming strong chemistry with Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink. Foerster also just re-upped with the Flyers on a two-year extension.

“Just kind of starting the season getting scratched and not where I wanted to be after last season and starting this past year. Just to keep my head down and find my game and find the effective way that I can play and do it consistently and do it for most of the season was great,” Cates said. “It set me up for this contract and the future and being a part of this. I’m super happy with how I stuck to it and believed in myself. I know what I am as a player and where I’m at. Just sticking with it turned out to be the best thing for me.”

That two-way ability is sure to be on display in the future too. It was a staple of John Tortorella’s system. And under new head coach Rick Tocchet, it is also expected to play a key part in the Flyers future success. Cates said he briefly got to speak with Tocchet.

“Just talked to him briefly, more of a get to know you,” Cates said. “[He] sounded like an energetic guy. Excited to have him and really excited to work with him.”