Connect with us

Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Noah Cates Blossoming with Trust from John Tortorella

Published

on

Noah Cates, Philadelphia Flyers

Noah Cates came into the Philadelphia Flyers training camp ready to prove that he could make it in the NHL. 

Less than 50 games into his NHL career, Cates has earned the respect of his teammates and head coach John Tortorella.

Just look at late-game situations in regard to whom Tortorella is putting on the ice. You often see #49 out there in key situations. It’s a testament to the strides Cates has made in his defensive game.

Earning Tortorella’s trust

His play defensively is the exact reason Tortorella felt Cates was able to handle the responsibilities of an NHL center, moving the young forward to the position early into his career. His teammates have also talked about the strides he has made and what he is doing well.

Something like that doesn’t go unnoticed by the player.

“To hear it and also guys like TK are really good at giving me confidence. Just telling me I’m making the right plays, playing smart, playing hard.”

When a young player is said to be more defensive-minded than a nine-year veteran, it holds a lot of weight. That is what Tortorella said when he elected to take Kevin Hayes off the wing and move Cates back to center about a month ago.

“I want to continue to develop Catesy as a center. I think Catesy is more responsible down low defensively.”

That’s about as blunt as it gets to describe how Cates has been earning his head coach’s trust early on.

Cates did start the season at center and was later moved back to the wing, something he welcomed at the time. He admitted that he was thinking too much about face-offs and the extra defensive responsibilities.

Adjusting to a new position

So what has he learned now that he has made the move back to center?

“I think I’ve gotten more comfortable in all areas of the ice,” Cates said. “Skating, coming back, playing low against some of the big guys. I think I’ve just kind of adjusted and we’ve done a lot of video and whatnot about coming back into the zone and different responsibilities. So just you know, more time, you know, working into the position has been really helpful for me.”

That adjustment has helped Cates become one of those guys that the Philadelphia Flyers can trust in all situations. It’s also been about learning from some of the veterans in the locker room as well.

“Haysey’s been very important, Laughts, even Couturier,” Cates said. “He hasn’t been playing but helping me out with some different things. So yeah, obviously, a lot of experience in here and good leaders and just trying to pick little things from everyone’s game, and especially the centers.

As a young player, Cates said you never expect anything coming into your first training camp. It’s about letting your play do the talking. But it’s been important to his confidence that his teammates respect him and his game.

As a young guy on a team that has struggled with injuries, you want to be a huge contributor and someone they can lean on when the going gets tough. Cates admitted that he hasn’t been as consistent in that area as he would like to be. But he feels he is ready to take that next step for the Philadelphia Flyers.

“I think it’s time for me to take that next step and just kind of every night be a threat, especially offensively and hold it down defensively,” he said.

Cates has already shown that he can be “that guy” for the Flyers. It’s all about continuing that work and not getting too up and down in a league where things can change instantly.

Get PHHN+ today!

Get PhHN in Your Inbox

Enter your email address to get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox.

Trending

Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now and Philadelphia Hockey Now. In no way affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers or the National Hockey League.