:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69121423/1232189810.0.jpg)
Ah yes the most normal time to sign a free agent, five o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon. The Flyers have signed University of Minnesota-Duluth forward Jackson Cates to a two-year entry level contract.
DONE DEAL: We've signed free agent forward @JacksonCates5 from the @UMDMensHockey to a two-year entry-level contract. https://t.co/CTK094VqvS
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 13, 2021
In three years at UMD, Cates has improved each and every year. Starting out he put up 14 points in 39 games, which turned into 23 in 29, and this year 27 in 28. Before that, Cates was a point per game player with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because it is! He’s the older brother of Flyers’ prospect Noah Cates also at UMD.
Cates’ contract will begin this season, so one would expect him to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the coming days. He was also invited to Flyers dev camp back in 2019, for some added familiarity with the Flyers and the current coaching staff.