PHILADELPHIA – After watching Noah Cates get scratched from the opening night lineup in October, who would have guessed he might be the Flyers’ best two-way player in March?
If you need confirmation of that current standing, just check with none other head coach John Tortorella.
“Noah Cates stands out like a star,” the coach said at a media session. “He is one of those guys.”
Cates has already registered a career-high for goals with 14 and his 28 points could bring him within reach of his career-high for points (38). Entering Saturday night’s game against Carolina, Cates led all forwards in the lineup (who have been here all season) with a plus-4.
His balanced game is a source of personal pride.
“When you’re playing against the top guys and they’re playing hard offensively, especially in this league, the two-way game can be key,” he said. “Trying to shut down and play hard hard against the other teams’ top guys is valuable and can really help the team.”
Cates was a plus-player every season during his four-year career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
In his second year (2022-23) with the Flyers, he played all 82 games and established himself as a mainstay. Some injury issues curtailed him the following season (just 59 games) but he’s maintained good health this season.
With Scott Laughton traded away, Cates might be the best all-around player among the forwards this season.
“I knew kind of at the beginning of the year it was going to be hard and different,” Cates said. “But I knew I was going to get my opportunity. Just needed to be hungry for it.
“It’s a good reminder now to know where I was. We’re kind of in the dog days now at the end of the season. I get tired but you have to stay focused and determined. You can see how quickly things can change in a year from where I was at. You can’t take a day for granted. Keep working, stay focused, stay determined.”
Bobby Brink, Cates’ wingman for the better part of three months, has gotten a bird’s-eye view of what Cates has offered in terms of all-around play.
“He’s great on both sides of the puck,” Brink said. “Works hard, forechecks, backchecks, always in the right spot.”
Brink believes this Cates’ two-way excellence came from years of paying attention to coaches. The 26-year-old Brink, who hails from Stillwater, Minn., was taken in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
“I mean, he had to learn it somewhere,” said Brink. “It’s kind of always been the way he’s played. I think he’s just getting better and better in his two-way game.”
Brink and Cates’ other flanker, Tyson Foerster, both like the way their center finds his way to the puck so often.
“He’s all over the puck,” Brink said. “When he gets it, he protects it. He takes the puck away a lot which, when we get possession, is huge. Like I said, he’s getting it done both ways.”
