Not re-signed by the Leafs, Cote was signed to a two-way contract by the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL and entered the training camp for their NHL affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in fall 2003.

An eye injury caused during a pre-season scrimmage resulted in Cote being assigned to the Crunch's ECHL affiliate, the Dayton Bombers, for much of the 2003–04 season.

Cote was suspended for three games after he delivered a high headshot to Dallas Stars defenceman Matt Niskanen late in the third period on December 1, 2007.

[5] He became the fifth Flyers player to receive a suspension during the 2007–08 season after Steve Downie, Jesse Boulerice, Randy Jones and Scott Hartnell.

[9] After appearing in only 15 games during the 2009–10 season, Cote retired on August 9, 2010, and was named an assistant coach of the Adirondack Phantoms.

[19] The organization hosts an annual music festival in Philadelphia to raise awareness about the various benefits and applications of the hemp plant.

[21] Cote is co-founder of a company called Bodychek Wellness, which produces organically grown CBD extracts and functional mushroom blends intended as alternatives to traditional pain medications.