Flyers Secure Noah Cates with Four-Year Contract Extension
The Philadelphia Flyers confirmed the re-signing of center Noah Cates to a four-year contract, valued at an average of $4 million per year, as announced by general manager Danny Briere on Tuesday. This move marks another step in the Flyers' strategy to retain their restricted free agents.
Scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1, Cates concluded the previous season with a career-high of 16 goals, solidifying his role as a key player within the organization.
At 26 years old, Cates wrapped up the 2024-25 season with 37 points, averaging 15:53 of ice time and achieving a plus-3 rating, which ranked second among his teammates.
Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Cates has accumulated 102 points over 235 games played.
This offseason, Cates becomes the third restricted free agent to secure a new contract with the Flyers. Recently, Tyson Foerster was signed to a two-year extension worth $7.5 million, while defenseman Helge Grans received a two-year deal totaling $1.575 million.
Remaining on the roster as restricted free agents are Cam York, a first-round pick from 2019, along with forwards Jakob Pelletier, Zayde Wisdom, and Elliot Desnoyers.
In addition to these signings, the Flyers appointed Rick Tocchet as their new head coach last month. Briere expressed confidence in Tocchet as a long-term solution for the team. By opting for a four-year deal for Cates instead of a bridge contract, it is evident that the Flyers' management sees him as integral to their rebuilding efforts.
Looking ahead, the Flyers hold 11 draft picks for the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, including seven selections in the first two rounds, set to take place at the end of this month.
