Photo Credit: Zack Hill
“We definitely are looking to dominate and put some pucks in the net,” Noah Cates said yesterday of Tyson Foerster and Jackson Cates with being some of the older prospects at Rookie Camp. 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.”
At only 20-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. Unfortunately, last season didn’t go as planned with him getting hurt, and missing the remainder of the season, “We had a 5-on-3 power play, so it’s a big fluke,” Foerster said of his injury. “Maybe I should have scored on that before it happened. I think I was diving for the puck to try and keep it in. I think my elbow hit the ice before my body did and it just popped out. It hurt for a bit. I continued playing and then I was like I don’t think something is right. Went and got it looked at.”
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Tyson is coming off a great WJC, in which he netted three big goals and tallied three assists. What was most impressive about his success in the tournament was his skating. He actually had longer strides and skated well coming down off the wing for Team Canada. It appears all his hard-work paid off this Summer, while working on his skating with coach Slava at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, NJ, “I feel great, I’m finally healthy,” Foerster said. “I’m focused on camp.”
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, but he may or may not need time with the Phantoms to not slow down his development. He took advantage of playing in the AHL with uncertainty surrounding the OHL in 2020-21. 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.
“Totally different. Totally different. It’s a pro body now,” Senior advisor of player development Mike O’ Connell said of Foerster at Developmental Camp. “You can tell he’s gained some weight. He looks stronger, he’s leaned out for me. He was never heavy, but you can look at a player over the last 3 or 4 months, I see a huge difference in his physique and the way he carries himself. He’s eating properly. It’s very noticeable because I haven’t seen him in 3 or 4 months. Again, he had a difficult year last year with injuries. He’s obviously feeling good about himself. He has to be feeling good about the way he is physically right. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly for him and he competes for a job here in Philadelphia. That’s the goal, he’s a young prospect. He’s suffered some injuries, but let’s hope he’s on the right path right, that he continues to build strength and confidence, so that he’s on the ice here next year in Philadelphia.” Lehigh Valley Phantoms Head Coach Ian Laperrière also alluded to the fact he got bigger, and hopes he puts forth a good 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 12 goals in 33 games played for his career as a Phantom, as Foerster just has a knack for the net:
“Just having that tournament in the Summer with high-end competition was great for me, and I’m just focused on this camp here.” – Tyson Foerster says after day one of Rookie Camp
He has many good qualities to his style of play that covers many of the area the Flyers are currently in lack of and he is 100%. His goal is to make the big squad out of camp For his efforts, he has remained in Voorhees since the season ended, as he exclaimed last week, “I think for sure you are always coming here and trying to make the big squad. That’s what I’m trying to do,” Foerster said at Developmental Camp.
He can hope all he wants but he is not making this team until the rebuild coming in 2 years. He is blocked by vets (although some of these vets are not nhl players anymore). He has to wait for the next gm to clear house after another pathetic year or 2.