Photo Credit: Our very own Jamey Baskow
“I’m sure this rings true for Foerster, as well, but he has big goals in mind. His first goal is to make the Flyers out right out of camp, he said it again yesterday for the third time in two months, “That’s my goal, and that’s what I want to do,” Noah Cates said of Tyson Foerster last year at Rookie Camp.
That was then, this is now. Foerster has remained in Voorhees, NJ for the Summer in preparation of the upcoming season. A season in which he will have the same goal in mind as last year, make the Flyers opening night roster. It doesn’t matter if he has a new number of 71, making the team does not change regardless of the number (Old number 52).
At only 21-years-old, Tyson Foerster is starting to show maturity at such a young age on the ice. Tyson is a strong playmaker and has a shoot first mentality. Foerster was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers following the 2020 NHL Draft, as he was a first round selection, #23 overall, “I don’t think I can expect a spot,” said Foerster. “I feel like I still have to work. Work my tail off and try to earn myself a spot on this team.”
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Tyson is coming off a great season, a season in which he impressed in his brief stint with the Flyers. What was most impressive about his success in the big show was his skating. He actually had longer strides and skated well coming down off the wing for the orange and black. It appears all his hard-work paid off with his skating, and he is working on obtaining quicker steps, “Yeah, I think for sure,” Foerster said when asked if playing in the NHL last year has helped his confidence. “Not even just the points. I think I was playing pretty well in the D-Zone, blocking shots, and doing all the little things right. So I think I did pretty good.”
Foerster continued, “It’s not easy out there, that’s for sure. Everyone’s sick players and that’s why they’re there (In the NHL). Every Summer it’s all about everything. This Summer, I’ve been here for a month. just my legs and my leg strength and my quick steps, I feel like I’m getting better at that. I feel like everything is improving.”
He is comfortable when he is in the face-off circle on the left side. Tyson feeds players extremely well and is always looking for where his target is. Foerster can bring qualities to the ice that the Flyers are lacking. He took advantage of playing in the AHL with uncertainty surrounding the OHL in 2020-21, and followed that up with a good season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2022-23. Tyson gained valuable professional experience, and tutelage from some veteran players like Cal O’Reilly and Garrett Wilson, whom he spoke of very highly of for helping him as he has stated to us at Developmental Camp in 2021.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Head Coach Ian Laperrière also alluded to the fact he got bigger last season. Tyson shoots right and mans the left side of power plays, and can easily understand what play is going to happen in the offensive zone. He is a double threat when it comes to odd man rushes, and he can move and pass the puck efficiently and score goals during these situations. Moreover, he has tallied 32 goals in 99 games played for his career as a Phantom, as Foerster just has a knack for the net.
The young sniper in Foerster even spoke highly of the Flyers future superstar/generational talent in Matvei Michkov, “Obviously he’s amazing player. Some of them are saying that he was right up there with [Connor] Bedard. So it’s great to have him here. We’re looking forward to when he comes.”
