Flyers Coach Tortorella Provides Noah Cates Injury Update

The Philadelphia Flyers lost 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, but they suffered a greater loss earlier that day.

On Tuesday morning, the Flyers announced that forward Noah Cates would be out 6-to-8 weeks with what was coined as a lower-body injury. In his postgame media availability, head coach John Tortorella revealed what it is that is bedeviling Cates in the long-term.

“The frustrating thing for me with Catesy was, we put him on wing, we leaned into him a little bit about trying to create some offense and I thought he probably had his best offensive game,” Tortorella started. “Breaks his foot at the beginning of the second period [against the New York Islanders], plays through it. A little frustrating we couldn’t see him more after playing a pretty good offensive game, but it’s gonna give people opportunities”.

“If we’re not happy, we’re gonna dip and give other people opportunities,” Tortorella concluded.

For the moment, Tortorella has acknowledged that the Philadelphia Flyers only have 12 healthy forwards with Cates out. This will mean extended opportunities for Morgan Frost and Bobby Brink – both of whom have been rotated and healthy scratched.

If the Flyers do opt to call up another forward, options might include Olle Lycksell or Samu Tuomaala. Lycksell is currently in his second season of North American hockey, and has 12 goals and six assists in 18 games this season. Lycksell scored 14 in 53 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season.

Tuomaala is four years than the 24-year-old Lycksell, but has also been productive in the AHL. In his first full season with the Phantoms, Tuomaala has four goals, 13 assists, and 17 points in 18 games played.

It doesn’t seem like Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers are in a rush to replace Cates and his broken foot, though they have options if they decide to go that route.

If a move is imminent, it will likely take place after Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.