Fantasy Summary

Excelled defensively after switching from wing to center: high hockey IQ and a great work ethic with a responsible 200-foot game. Scoring is an area that needs improvement.


Observations

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July 2023 – Cates avoided salary arbitration and signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract extension ($2.625 million AAV). During the 2022-23 season as a rookie in his first full NHL season, Cates played 82 games and had 38 points (13 goals and 25 assists). He established himself as one of the league’s better defensive centers and Tortorella became a pretty big fan. He finished 15th in the Selke Trophy voting, which goes to a “forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game,” earning 19 votes. Mark Henry

 

July 2023 – Cates avoided salary arbitration and signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract extension ($2.625 million AAV). During the 2022-23 season as a rookie in his first full NHL season, Cates played 82 games and had 38 points (13 goals and 25 assists). He established himself as one of the league’s better defensive centers. He finished 15th in the Frank J. Selke Trophy voting, which goes to a “forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game,” earning 19 votes. Mark Henry

 

May 2022 – Signing his entry-level contract shortly after UMD’s quarterfinal elimination from the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, Cates made an immediate impression in his 16 games with the struggling Flyers. Recording five goals and four assists in the late stages of the failed campaign. The 23-year-old served as one of the few organizational bright spots as the 2021-2022 season drew to a close. Establishing himself as a reliable bottom-six forward, Cates demonstrated the hockey IQ and work ethic necessary to succeed at the game’s highest level. His on-ice positioning and awareness made him a capable option for any situation, especially for a team decimated by injury and desperate for positive contributions. Thinking ahead to next season, Cates has all but secured a spot on the roster, likely slotting in on the team’s fourth line, depending on other offseason moves. It is not far-fetched to see him on a third line, with the potential of sliding even further up the depth chart for short-term stints filling in for potential injuries. Although he is unlikely to become an elite point producer, the future remains bright for Cates and his long-term projection as an NHL regular. John Gove

 

April 2019 – Cates has had his consistent and considerable efforts rewarded as he and the rest of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs win a National Championship by shutting out the University of Massachusetts. Cates led all Bulldogs Freshmen with a very respectable 23 points through 40 games. He started to show that there is more to come as the NCAA Tournament progressed which should make for more of a flying start to next season. He would do well to put on some good weight this offseason to better allow for the possibility.  Edric Joseph

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 7.0
NHL Certainty 9.0
Country USA
Position C
Roster Type NHL
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth February 5, 1999
Height 6‘1”
Weight 165 lbs
Drafted 2017 Round 5; Overall: 137

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2008-2009 Minnesota Blades Brick Invitational5 3 25 2|        
 2014-2015 Team TDS TransportationUMHSEHL5 0 11 0|        
  Stillwater HighUSHS-MN25 13 1730 10|Playoffs3 0 00
 2015-2016 Team MPLS Magazine UMHSEHL20 3 1215 6|Playoffs3 0 44
  Stillwater HighUSHS-MN25 20 3454 6|Playoffs6 5 510
  Omaha LancersUSHL2 1 01 2|        
 2016-2017 B17 - Red (Final 54)MNHP-173 0 22 -|        
  Team Gold USA-S175 1 23 -|        
  Team MPLS Magazine UMHSEHL21 9 1524 10|Playoffs3 1 12
  Stillwater HighUSHS-MN25 20 4565 10|Playoffs3 3 25
  Omaha LancersUSHL11 2 57 6|        
 2017-2018 Omaha LancersUSHL60 21 3455 26|Playoffs4 1 23
 2018-2019 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA40 9 1423 33|        
  USA U20WJC-207 1 23 2|        
 2019-2020 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA34 14 1933 35|        
 2020-2021 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA28 5 1419 25|        
 2021-2022 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA37 11 1324 19|        
  Philadelphia FlyersNHL16 5 49 4|        
  USAOG4 1 01 2|        
 2022-2023 Philadelphia FlyersNHL82 13 2538 12|        
 2023-2024 Philadelphia FlyersNHL51 3 1013 0|        

Highlights