Mar 29, 2022; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (49) skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Noah Cates says, “I think just getting bigger, faster, and a little quicker,” when asked what he needed to improve this offseason at exit interviews. He put in the work this Summer and it’s quite evident in his play. For his efforts, Cates looks like a mini Sean Couturier on the ice.
“He’s a coach’s dream.” – Head Coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Ian Laperrière said following a Flyers first pre-season tilt
“He does everything right,” Laperrière continued. “He doesn’t cheat. He plays the right way and coachable. How can you not like a guy like that? I don’t know Torts much but I know every coach likes players like that. His brother is playing great too. Jackson, I wouldn’t but him out of the race either. He came in camp in tip-top shape and came in camp to make the team. I’m sure they trained together. They’re tight. They’re always together and it’s fun to watch. Noah is a pleasure to just see what he does, the little things that you don’t see, a super goal by beating a guy one-on-one or score a great goal. He does the little things that coaches like.”
Getting bigger, stronger, faster are common goals for young prospects to make it at the next level. For Cates, he had one heck of a showing in a small sample size to think he could at the very least compete in the Fall for a full-time spot with the Flyers out of Training Camp. His line of Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost became the Flyers most consistent line during the latter parts of last season. Fast forward to this season and Cates has continued where he left off last season.
“It was obviously big going into the summer, and next training camp, knowing what to expect and what the pace is like, and different things like that was I think kind of the question mark,” Cates said when asked if gaining this NHL experience was helpful. “What I was focused on was the pace of the game. Definitely didn’t think I was out of place, but I think I could improve this summer and get to playing a little faster. Be able to generate a little more.”
He has skated well, is confident and poised with the big club. It almost is reminiscent of the Sean Couturier, just without the offensive niche just yet, that’s it just yet as Cates has found a new deal with the big club, thus avoiding salary arbitration. His new deal is for two-years $2.625 per year ($5.250 million total), per Elliote Friedman. Cates is a mini Couturier, so this deal makes sense.
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