Flyers Strike Multi-Year Deal With Promising Young Center

A nice piece of business was conducted by the Philadelphia Flyers on this Monday, as they've avoided arbitration with one of their most promising young forwards, striking a two-year deal with Noah Cates. 

Congrats Noah Cates signing 2yr deal $2.625M per year with @NHLFlyers avoiding arbitration. New look for Noah #49 now wearing #27 with #Flyers. Still same 200 ft. complete player both ends of the ice and PK killer!

— Ben Hankinson (@BenHankinson) July 10, 2023

It's a 2-year, $5.25M deal, $2.625 AAV for the two-way center, who is lock-down on defense, and stellar on the penalty-kill. He also added 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in playing all 82 games, at 17:46 time on ice per contest, as a second-line forward. 

The 24-year-old Cates was a fifth-round selection in the 2017 Draft by the Flyers, and just completed his first full season in Philly. He finished 9th in balloting for the Calder Trophy. 

His five game-winning goals tied him for the Flyers' lead in that department, and was tops among all NHL rookies. He also led the team in plus-minus rating at +3, and led all Flyers' forwards in blocked shots with 65. 

Before turning pro, in four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Cates compiled 99 points in 139 games.

After the two-year deal is complete in 2025, he'll once again be an arbitration-eligible RFA.

Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports