VOORHEES, N.J. – In today’s game, not too many hockey lines carry over from one year to the next.
That’s why it would be somewhat special if the Flyers decided to bring back the trio of Noah Cates centering Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink.
After that unit was put together last season, each player wound up recording career highs for goals (Foerster 25, Cates 16, Brink 12).
Cates was particularly impressive at both ends of the rink. Defensively, he finished a plus-3 on a team which completed the season with a collective minus-48.
Because of the coaching change from John Tortorella to Rick Tocchet, there’s nothing etched in stone that this trio will be back together again when the Flyers hit the ice for real on Oct. 9 in Florida.
But if they are reassembled, it should be a lot of fun.
Either way, Cates sounds like he can’t wait to get started. Especially with Tocchet’s different approach.
“They (the coaching staff) have some new ideas,” Cates said after Wednesday’s training camp session at the Flyers Training Center. “And the way of thinking. He (Tocchet) was an offensive player when he played, super smart. . .they bring a ton of excitement.
“Just kind of a new refreshing way to look at the game. In just a week or two of camp we’ve learned a lot. Can’t wait for the season.”
As for playing with Foerster and Brink, Cates says a reunion would be nice but nothing should be taken for granted.
“It’s nice to have chemistry,” he said. “But you can’t just think that what happened last year can happen again. You have to do the little things, the little details that gave us success.”
Cates really found his rhythm in December, 2024. For the month, he registered six goals, nine points and had a career-high five-game goal-scoring streak.
A lot of that success came from playing with Foerster and Brink. But again, nothing is guaranteed for 2025-26.
“It’s not just going to be straight offense,” Cates predicted. “You have to do the hard things. That comes from the mindset that it’s a new year, new challenges, all that stuff. But things from last year don’t really carry over too much.”
Even though he set a career high for goals, Cates wants to push that envelope.
“I think my offense kind of comes from structure,” he said. “Details, being in the right spot, being smart. I think I can add that creative element to help those skill guys.”
Cates and Travis Konecny have seen some playing time together in this preseason and Konecny has had a chance to see Cates’ strong two-way play from an up-close angle.
“He (Cates) is very similar to the way I talk about Tyson,” Konecny said. “Different styles, the way they play the game but I think for ‘Cater,’ I think the sky’s the limit for him. The skills he has, the way he learns and listens and wants to get better – as far as offensive play, he’s probably our best forward. When you give him the puck, it’s hard to get it back from him.”
Foerster offered similar praise.
“It’s his work level,” Foerster said. “In the ‘D’ zone, me, Bobby and ‘Catesy’ would always be around each other. I didn’t feel we were giving up much. That grows our confidence to get in the ‘O’ zone.”
Tocchet might even leave Cates with Konecny and that pairing would be considered one of the team’s top lines.
“There are other options,” Tocchet said. “We do know it (Cates-Brink-Foerster) is a good line when ‘Torts’ put them together.”
Asked what he likes about Cates’ game, Tocchet answered quickly.
“His intelligence, his hockey IQ,” the coach said. “He’s a highly intelligent guy. At the Islander game (Sunday) somebody ran out of position, he (Cates) knew to cover that situation. You know he has that intelligence.”
>The Foerster-Crosby connection
Foerster had a chance to play with Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby at last year’s World Championships.
Crosby gave Foerster high marks for his overall play. Foerster is literally still beaming from that commentary.
“It pains me to talk about it,” Konecny said, drawing laughter around the room. “He (Foerster) is just a player I think is overlooked by a lot of people. Someday people are going to be worried about him. Such a good player, so smart and he has all the tools.”
Said Foerster of Crosby’s evaluation: “That’s pretty cool. Anytime a player like that says something like that about you, it’s pretty cool.”
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