Prospect Info: Round 5, Pick 137: Noah Cates, LW, Stillwater (MN-HS) -> Omaha (USHL) -> UM-Duluth

[Ghosts Beer]

I like this one.

 

[The Madrigal]

Well I am now lol

 

[Magua]

There was a lot of buzz about this guy. Apparently he's big and can skate amazing. The Pipeline Show was recently hyping him as a major sleeper.

Love this pick. Can't wait to see him in college......in 2 years. I'd love to try to get an Omaha USHL stream next year to see him at least once. Seems like he has the Flyers check marks along with the high upside, skill, smarts, speed.

Flyers do not draft out of HS, so this pick is extra intriguing.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Flyers do not draft out of HS, so this pick is extra intriguing.

I never expected him for this exact reason, but I like this!

 

[FLYguy3911]

Terrance Amorosa says hello.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Terrance Amorosa says hello.

That's the only one I could remember going back a good 10+ years. Was there anyone else?

 

[Curufinwe]

Flyers do not draft out of HS, so this pick is extra intriguing.

Not since the back half of the 2013 draft, I think.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

That's the only one I could remember going back a good 10+ years. Was there anyone else?

They've taken some prep school kids if that counts. Madsen was during that draft as well. Placek was another earlier in the decade.

 

[FLYguy3911]

That's the only one I could remember going back a good 10+ years. Was there anyone else?

Madsen. Placek too I think.

Minnesota HS hockey is a bit different though.

 

[Tripod]

I think I am most intrigued by this pick out of our whole draft.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

I think I am most intrigued by this pick out of our whole draft.

Yeah, me too. Will be very interesting to watch this one develop.

 

[Stizzle]

I think I am most intrigued by this pick out of our whole draft.

I agree. He's a much better long-term prospect than Strome or Sushko. A lot of upside, skill, and physical tools. A very worthwhile swing for the fences on an under scouted player by the Flyers.

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[Roo Mad Bro]

I remember reading about him in the black book before the draft. Noticed how they had him higher than the consensus. Should be fun to follow his progress.

 

[Magua]

Brian Lawton, to the masochists who watched the NHLN feed, mentioned that Pryor has connections to Stillwater, MN where Cates played.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Brian Lawton, to the masochists who watched the NHLN feed, mentioned that Pryor has connections to Stillwater, MN where Cates played.

I'd like to cram Lawton and Pierre into a very small rocket and launch them to a distant planet where they can have their own show for the aliens.

 

[Larry44]

Brian Lawton, to the masochists who watched the NHLN feed, mentioned that Pryor has connections to Stillwater, MN where Cates played.

Didn't he also say that Phil Housley coached there too?

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

I'd like to cram Lawton and Pierre into a very small rocket and launch them to a distant planet where they can have their own show for the aliens.

Lawton is just terrible, dude comes off way too smug for god knows what reason.

 

[Magua]

I'd like to cram Lawton and Pierre into a very small rocket and launch them to a distant planet where they can have their own show for the aliens.

So long as these aliens conduct frequent, highly invasive probing for Pierre and have a mountain of botox for Lawton, I think both would go willingly.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

Lawton is just terrible, dude comes off way too smug for god knows what reason.

He basically credited himself with the Sabres drafting Miller.

 

[Magua]

I would love to see what Lawton looks like embalmed. Because I'm guessing it would be the same.

He basically credited himself with the Sabres drafting Miller.

He really did. Said some BS about how he was blowing kisses or some **** from the stands to the Sabres to draft his client, Ryan Miller, and they didn't know who he was but apparently just drafted him because of that. What a tool. Then again......NHL GMs are morons, and I should know better than to completely doubt this story.

 

[David St Hubbins]

I agree. He's a much better long-term prospect than Strome or Sushko. A lot of upside, skill, and physical tools. A very worthwhile swing for the fences on an under scouted player by the Flyers.

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I'm not sure about "silky mitts." It makes me feel dirty just typing it.

But intrigued by the pick. It's the one present under the tree that was really a surprise.

 

[Stizzle]

He will go to U. of M-Duluth in 18-19. Next season should be USHL for him.

A beat reporter who covers Minn-Duluth was recently on the Pipeline Show. He said UMD has had more players leave the program this off-season than they were anticipating. He thought there would be a spot open this season and mentioned Cates as a candidate to possibly skip the USHL now.

 

[Magua]

Interesting. I don't know what's best for him, or if it matters one way or the other. But for a kid without any real experience but HS hockey, and who has decent size (with the skill/skating) but needs to gain weight, a year in the USHL seems sensible over getting buried at Duluth, even if he makes it now. USHL would be the best level of hockey he's ever played, so he has stuff to learn there.

But he did have a 7 points in 11 game sample at the end of the year. It's really tough to jump a level so late in the year -- and to one of the worst teams in the USHL yet. Jumping in cold water, having no time to learn or adjust......he held his own, and that's a good indicator. Some kids outright struggle going from HS to USHL. I imagine he'd have a great rookie season in the USHL next year. And, ulterior motive alert, it might delay his signing 1 year.

 

[FLYguy3911]

A beat reporter who covers Minn-Duluth was recently on the Pipeline Show. He said UMD has had more players leave the program this off-season than they were anticipating. He thought there would be a spot open this season and mentioned Cates as a candidate to possibly skip the USHL now.

He might be better off dominating a full year in the USHL than fighting for minutes at UMD. Tufte had trouble working his way up the lineup as a 1st round pick.

 

[FlyTimmo]

I wonder what it is like to be a HS player and attend the camp with several players that have been playing in pro leagues (SHL, KHL) for the last 2-3 years.