Feb 27, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) celebrates with the Flyers bench after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Flyers have identified the players that they feel will be a part of their core going forward, and one of them, Noah Cates, is a lot wealthier now because of it.
The team announced on Tuesday that Cates was signed to a 4-year, $16 million contract, ensuring the 26-year-old center remains a key component of the team through the 2028-29 season.
An AAV of $4 million per season is a team-friendly number for Cates, who had a bounce back season in 2024-25.
BREAKING: We have signed forward @cates_noah to a four-year contract extension worth an annual average value (AAV) of $4 million. #LetsGoFlyers
Originally drafted by the Flyers in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2017 draft, Cates burst on the scene in 2022-23 as a reliable two-way center, even garnering some surprise votes for the Selke Award.
But Cates struggled in his second full season, and was in and out of the lineup. When he was in, was oftentimes relegated to fourth line duty.
That changed last season, when he centered the Flyers most consistent line with Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink.
Cates achieved a career-high 16 goals and totaled 37 points over 78 games.
A week after announcing a new deal for Foerster, Cates has now been locked up as well, although a couple days ago it didn't seem like the two sides were close enough.
Sources indicated to On Pattison that Cates' camp was originally holding out hope for a deal with more term and more dollars, but the Flyers weren't willing to go beyond the deal that was ultimately signed.
Cates' camp finally came around to the meeting the Flyers at their price point on Tuesday morning, bringing the deal to fruition.
Prior to this new deal, Cates completed a two-year, $5.25 million bridge contract signed in July 2023.
With this new agreement, the Flyers avoid arbitration and secure a player who has become a cornerstone in their lineup, at a price befitting a third line center - which ultimately is the role they'd like Cates to flourish in when the team is a playoff contender.
