Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates (27). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
When Noah Cates sat out Opening Night, it wasn’t just surprising—it was a wake-up call. A year ago, he had really broken out and shown up as a solid, reliable young forward, capable of providing depth and stability to the Philadelphia Flyers' offense. This year, he was watching the puck drop from the press box.
But that moment didn’t break him. It built him. And the story of Noah Cates’ season is the story of a player who refused to sulk, who sharpened every edge of his game, and who turned a rocky start into one of the most quietly impressive campaigns on the Flyers roster.
“I’ve never been in that position before,” Cates said in his exit interview, looking back on that first night. “So [it was] definitely humbling. I think I kept a really good focus. I get my chances—it’s a long season. When I got my chance, I knew that I was gonna take it and run with it.”
And he did. Slowly but surely, Cates played his way into the lineup—and then onto a line that just clicked. Centering Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster, Cates became the fulcrum of one of the Flyers’ most consistent and complete forward trios.
“I think it was just a lot of parts where our game really complemented each other,” Cates said. “Bobby’s got such an elite offensive mind, and Tyson’s got a big frame, his shot, his stick defensively, so a lot of factors went into helping each other out and playing hard for each other.”
That emphasis on chemistry and commitment was a hallmark of Cates’ season. He didn’t just mesh with his linemates—he lifted them. In a league where lines can often shift like wind, the Brink-Cates-Foerster trio found rare stability, built on trust and hard minutes.
“We were always talking and just playing hard for each other and wanting the best for each other,” he added. “I can’t say enough good things about those guys and the things they provided that maybe I lacked, and maybe there were things that I helped them with.”
Cates is humble by nature, but don’t mistake that for passivity. His game is filled with intention. He tracks well, plays responsibly, and quietly does a lot of things that win coaches’ trust—winning battles, getting sticks in lanes, resetting plays under pressure. And this season, as he grew more comfortable in the center position, that trust grew too.
Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates (27) takes a face-off against Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 7, 2025. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
“I think confidence—finding the line, finding chemistry,” he said. “Confident in the part I brought to our line and confident in those guys every night to bring that offensive spark.”
That belief showed up in the numbers. Cates wasn’t only scoring, but he was driving results. His defensive metrics were strong, his line controlled play, and the coaching staff leaned on him in key situations.
It also gets noticed in the room.
By the second half of the season, Cates wasn’t just logging tough minutes—he was stepping into leadership roles. In a young, evolving Flyers locker room, he became a steady voice. Not the loudest, but one with weight.
“On the leadership side, I think I grew towards the end of the year and got to be in some [leadership group] meetings and take that next step on that side of the team,” Cates said. “Starting the year where I was and finishing where I’m at, I’m really proud and happy with the season I’ve had.
“I think I had that confidence in my game. I care; I want the best for this organization. I’m saying different things and trying to help the team in that way, pushing guys. It’s such a long year and so mentally fatiguing. I think I bring a good focus and a good energy to the rink every day.”
That maturity and self-awareness stand out for a 26-year-old still figuring out where he fits in the NHL pecking order. Especially when that role involves learning one of the league’s hardest jobs on the fly: playing center.
“I think I could get there,” he said of becoming a full-time NHL center. “Sometimes with faceoffs I struggle—I want to be on the wings sometimes at the draws!—but it’s just one of those things where I’m learning and trying to get better.
“It definitely would be weird to go back to the wing, but I think I could do it. I just want to be able to play anywhere. I want to be an NHL player. That’s the biggest thing.”
That attitude—selfless, team-first, determined—makes it easy to understand why the Flyers value him. And why, despite his pending restricted free agency, there’s no real drama.
“It started a little bit during the season, then talks kind of slowed down a little bit,” Cates said of contract negotiations. “I’m not worried about anything…After a good season, it feels really good going into the summer very excited for my future and the future of this team. I’m just really happy to be here in the circumstances that I’m in. Where we’re at, I feel very, very fortunate.”
The Flyers feel the same way. Cates might not be the flashiest name on the roster, but he’s the kind of glue guy teams need to win. He’s smart, he’s accountable, he makes his teammates better—and he’s still getting better himself.
He put his name on the map last year. This year, his story is about proving he belongs—not just on the roster, but in the room, on the ice, and in the core of the Flyers’ future.
“It’s really exciting with this group,” Cates said. “You can see it throughout the year of what we can do. I’m just really excited and obviously really thankful for the opportunity that was this year.”
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