The Philadelphia Flyers nearly made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24. However, they collapsed late in the season, with their season ending in heartbreaking fashion against the Washington Capitals. In 2024-25, Noah Cates and his teammates unfortunately fell well short of the postseason.
It was not a great campaign for the Flyers at all. They finished dead last in the Metropolitan Division. In fact, they were the only team in the eight-team division to finish with fewer than 80 standing points in 2024-25. Philadelphia ended up with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, selecting Brampton Steelheads star Porter Martone.
However, Philadelphia has retooled its organization a bit this offseason. The Flyers have a new head coach behind the bench moving forward. And they’ve brought in the likes of Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Dan Vladar to improve the roster.
All of these moves should help Philadelphia somewhat in 2025-26. However, Cates has loftier ambitions than simple improvement. He recently expressed his confidence in Philadelphia’s chances at the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“We were close a couple of years ago, and we just kind of faltered last year,” Cates said, via NHL.com’s Jessi Pierce. “That’s behind us. We’ve got a lot of new faces, and just the newness of the organization and the season. I think we can bounce back if everyone can have a better year and push themselves, then I think that playoff push is right there for us.”
Noah Cates is Excited For New Coach Rick Tocchet
Emilee Chinn/Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Flyers and Noah Cates will be led by a new head coach in 2025-26.
As mentioned, Philadelphia has a new head coach leading the way. The Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their new bench boss, succeeding John Tortorella. Tocchet returns to Philadelphia after spending parts of 11 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love as a player.
His history as a player is part of why Cates is excited to get to work. Tocchet has an understanding of this organization few coaches have. More than most, he knows exactly what playing for the Philadelphia Flyers means.
“First of all, it’s just a new voice,” Cates said of Tocchet, via Pierce. “He played hard. He was a Flyer, so I think that means a lot. That means something. I’ve heard a lot of good things and just to get to work with him and have the new fresh ideas, plus the new fresh faces around, there’s so much to be excited about come September.”
Flyers Inked Cates to New Contract This Summer
One thing Cates likely won’t need to worry about in 2025-26 is his future. The young centerman signed a four-year, $16 million contract this summer with the Flyers. This takes him to unrestricted free agency in 2029.
“This new contract kind of feels like a new start for me,” Cates said of his new deal, via Pierce. “Not just for me, but for the organization, with the new coaches and staff. I want to pull my weight.”
Cates will be expected to contribute to a playoff push in 2026. With a new coach and contract, he has the tools to succeed. The Flyers open their 2025-26 season on October 9th when they travel to play the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on the road.
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