The Flyers signed Noah Cates to a four-year contract extension on Tuesday. The deal carries a $4 million cap hit for the 26-year-old center. Offensively, the two-way forward finished the 2024-25 season with 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 78 games played. Last month, Cates expressed hope of getting a deal done sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, here are three key factors to understanding the timing, the term and cap hit.
- Another box checked off. In combination with getting Tyson Foerster signed last week to a two-year extension, the Cates contract eliminates another key summertime chore for general manager Daniel Briere. For the next few weeks, the general manager can focus entirely on the 2025 Draft and trade discussions with other organizations.
- Preempts three summers of unrestricted free agency. By signing the new contract for four seasons, Cates gave up UFA rights in the summers of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Doing so entails a larger raise from the team than a short-term agreement. A short-term deal would have walked Cates directly to UFA status next summer.
- Cost certainty. Over the long haul the replacement cost for Cates may have been comparable or higher than the salary on this trade. The cost certainty factor could also come into play if the Flyers move to trade Cates while he has remaining term on the deal.
- Avoids arbitration battle. The Cates extension takes away any concerns over a potential arbitration case later this summer. Likewise, the Foerster contract heads off any possibility of another team tendering the player an offer sheets. While Cates was more likely to go the arbitration route than holding onto restricted free agency this summer, the new deal also eliminates any offer sheet threat in his case, too.
I think they move him back to wing once they get the centers figured out. I do think they should look at making Ryan P part of a package, had a career year, and is cost controlled