Daniel Briere has been busy over the past week. First, Tyson Foerster signed a new deal. Then, Helge Grans secured a nice two-way pact, which gives the defensive prospect the chance to showcase his skills finally. And now, with the draft and free agency looming, Briere decided to keep a key piece in house. Today, the Flyers signed center Noah Cates to a four-year deal for $16 million.
This deal is a great signing for both parties. For Cates, he is getting a nice pay raise from $2.65 million to $4 million. For a player who doesn't put up a lot of statistical numbers, that's a fairly good increase. More importantly, it shows a commitment made by the Flyers to the former fifth-rounder.
Speaking of commitments, this deal shows how valuable Cates is to the team. If you look at the long-term contracts the Flyers have, Cates joins Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim as players locked up for more than a few years. Flyers fans will see them playing here in Philly right on through the 2028-29 season.
The Flyers are getting a lot out of this deal as well. First of all, they are keeping a solid center. In his rookie season, Cates finished 15th in Selke Trophy and drew a lot of comparisons to fellow Flyers center Couturier. This team is low on centers right now, with Cates and Couturier being the only fully natural centers. Keeping him here needed to be a high priority this summer.
Secondly, look at that value. He's getting paid just $4 million. That drops the Flyers' available salary cap number down to just a hair under $19 million. That's a bargain. They still have enough money to add a piece or two (or three) in free agency while rewarding someone who has earned it.
Cates may not have the best numbers in terms of points. However, in 2023-24, he battled injuries and had a down year. This past season, he scored a career-high 16 goals with 21 assists for 37 points, one shy of a career high. For a guy who just turned 26 and is coming into his own, that's not bad.
There's another thing to look at. John Tortorella, when he was here, used Cates all over the place. He was on the penalty kill, helped out on the power play, and played on every line at some point. His linemates kept switching up for a variety of reasons. He brings a physical, yet disciplined presence to the game.
With Rick Tocchet coming in as head coach, he could be a player that Tocchet can utilize and transform into an even greater player. After all, he is a fundamentally sound guy, like Tocchet was when he was a player (minus all the fighting and penalties).
For younger players, the signing of Cates sends a clear message. If you play well and work hard enough, it doesn't matter where you were drafted; if you've earned a roster spot, you will be rewarded. If you come to play, you will be a Flyer for a long time. This team will commit to you if you commit to being the best player you can be.
So, congrats to Cates for earning a nice payday. Congrats to Briere for making a great signing. All that's left to sign, RFA-wise, is Cam York and Jakob Pelletier. So far, the Flyers' offseason is shaping up nicely.