The AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rockford IceHogs, will have a familiar face on the roster next season. The team announced they have agreed to terms with forward Jackson Cates to a one-year AHL contract for the 2024-25 AHL season.
Cates joined the IceHogs last year on a professional tryout agreement after the Philadelphia Flyers decided not to tender him a contract for the 2023-24 NHL season. The young forward came to the Flyers organization after a strong showing with the University of Minnesota-Duluth as an undrafted free agent. In three years split between Philadelphia and AHL Lehigh Valley, Cates tallied two assists in 20 NHL games while scoring 33 points in 102 AHL games.
Cates was by no means a standout player in Rockford but did finish 10th on the team in scoring with 11 goals and 25 points in 50 games. He also spent a brief period with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last year where he tallied one goal in 12 contests. As the Blackhawks continue to graduate prospects through the farm system this season, Cates will be a good bit of continuity for the younger players to get accustomed to professional life.
Other AHL notes:
- According to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, the Carolina Hurricanes will bring prospect Felix Unger Sörum to North America this season where he will likely play for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Beginning to look like one of the better playmakers from the 2023 NHL Draft, Unger Sörum scored three goals and 12 assists for Leksands IF of the SHL this season after being selected with the 62nd overall pick by the Hurricanes.
- Although nothing is confirmed to this point, all signs indicate forward Cooper Marody will return to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an AHL contract for the 2024-25 season according to Tony Androckitis of Insider AHL Hockey. Marody has spent the last two years with the Phantoms where he has posted 34 goals and 96 points in 115 games. As the team’s highest scorer from the 2023-24 regular season, Marody also tallied five assists in six playoff matchups before Lehigh Valley was eliminated in the Atlantic Division semifinals by the Hershey Bears.
No Rutger McGroarty? Guy LOOKS like a Flyers Captain! Idc if he wants an NHL job NOW! SO DOES MICHKOV AND any other Elite potential player!!! Guy is just honest and not going to deal with B.S.
No elite potential players worth Rebuilding around but Michkov? And another draft of low ceiling overrated prospects?
No Zegras? No Pinto? No Leonard? No Savoie? And Laughton with his HORRIBLE metrics is still here playing rainbow warrior because his buddies refuse to trade him even with his pathetic on ice performance? Disgusting!
Looks like another Hextall era 2.0 fake rebuild with Another group of clowns Rebuilding towards HORRIBLE mediocrity AGAIN!!!
Nobody in Winnipeg gets opportunities! Look at Perfetti!? Another player we should be looking at in trades considering No playoffs and no top5 picks AGAIN!!!
All this coach and management is going to do is watch OTHER teams draft Elite potential talent while we draft overrated pugs in prospect purgatory at the Draft AGAIN!!!
Meanwhile McGroarty LOOKING LIKE thr next Tkachuk and The Flyers can’t handle 18 year Olds with talent in this organization. They prove it time and again!!! This is why we passed on Elite ceiling #1D Buium for another low ceiling bottom6 (at best) overrated “hard worker” who doesn’t even have an AHL level shot.
Fire the whole Flyers management and START AN ACTUAL REBUILD!!!
Someone get Hextall 2.0 out of here and START trading vets and GETTING TOP 5 PICKS!!!
McGroarty is a DIAMOND in the Rough!!!
Your nor getting ANY Elite potential through FAs, offer sheets, trades, or the top of the draft like every other intelligent rebuilding team!!!
So GO Get him and START POLISHING!!!
Or GO get Zegras and start teaching DEFENSE!!!
Just don’t tell me your WHOLE rebuilding formula consists of drafting low ceiling late round prospects and failing to do anything significant for ANOTHER 15+ years!!!
Here comes the empty Wells Fargo center and paper bags on heads AGAIN!!!
Last season for “Wells Fargo” since naming expire August 2025 and not being renewed