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Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet has been consistently praising forward Noah Cates throughout the early part of the 2025-26 season, highlighting his hockey IQ, buy-in to the team’s system, and role on the effective third line with Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, “He’s a pleasure to coach. He has bought in, from day one, whatever the coaching staff has asked,” Tocchet said of Cates yesterday following practice. “I just think his hockey IQ is really outstanding.”
This builds on Tocchet’s positive comments from training camp and Pre-Season, where he emphasized Cates’ versatility and desire to improve offensively without being “robotic.”
- October 27 (post-game comments): After a Flyers practice, Tocchet called Cates “a pleasure to coach,” noting that he “has bought in, from day one, whatever the coaching staff has asked,” and praised his “really outstanding” hockey IQ. Cates could possibly be in line with future leadership roles, like Assistant Captain.
- October 21 (practice observations): Tocchet was seen providing direct coaching to Cates, Foerster, and Trevor Zegras on Power Play elements, underscoring Cates’ growing importance in special teams and offensive structure.
- October 10 (opening night aftermath): Following the season opener (a loss where Cates scored the Flyers’ lone goal), Tocchet highlighted the Cates-Foerster-Brink line as “connected” and one of the team’s strongest units, crediting their strong 5-on-5 metrics (e.g., 68.42% Corsi For, 94.97% Expected Goals For). He saw them as a positive amid the defeat.
Earlier Praise (Pre-Season and Summer 2025)
- September 29 (Pre-Season win vs. Bruins): Tocchet lauded the chemistry of the Cates-Foerster-Brink line, calling it a key factor in the Flyers’ 3-2 shootout victory and emphasizing their ability to drive play.
- September 24 (Training Camp): Tocchet appreciated Cates’ positional flexibility (“he can play any forward position”) and encouraged his creativity, saying, “With a guy like Noah, I don’t want him just to be that’s his playbook… if he sees something I want him to go for it, and I don’t want him to be robotic.” This aligns with Cates’ career-high 16 goals from 2024-25.
- June 14 (radio interview): Tocchet endorsed Cates’ four-year, $16 million extension, describing him as a “two-way type of guy, centerman, [who] can supply that brain for us” and a core part of the Flyers’ future alongside Foerster.
Cates, now in his fourth full NHL season after being drafted 137th overall in 2017, has responded well to Tocchet’s system, contributing early goals and solid two-way play. The duo’s rapport dates back to Cates’ excitement over Tocchet’s June 2025 hiring, viewing it as a “new start” for the Flyers.
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