“He’s got a hell of a shot,” Tyson Foerster showing Flyers what he can bring

With a full head of steam, Tyson Foerster came streaking up the left side of the ice. He had Adam Ginning to his right and nothing but net in front of him. Electing to take the shot, Foerster unleashed his shot from just inside the face off dot to lift the Flyers rookies to victory in overtime.

It’s his shot that made him a first round draft pick back in 2020. The Flyers are in desperate need of players with a shoot first mentality. Chuck Fletcher has said just as much before. Foerster had come off a big season with the Barrie Colts in the OHL, scoring 36 goals and collecting 80 points overall.

He got a taste of the professional season the following year due to the pandemic shutting down some of the Canadian leagues. Foerster posted 10 goals and 17 points in 24 games. Back in the AHL the following season, an innocent dive to try and break up a play on 5-on-3 penalty kill led to his shoulder popping out. That sidelined him for the next five months.

While he did return to play, it was back in juniors with the Colts. It took a bit for Foerster to finally feel like himself. By the time he felt like he was getting there, the Colts were eliminated in the playoffs. But Foerster was given another opportunity at the World Juniors as the tournament had been postponed back in January, a time in which he hadn’t been able to play.

That’s where he finally felt like he was at his peak. He posted three goals and six points overall for the gold medal winning Canadian squad. Not only did he show off his scoring, he proved that he’s added to the physical side of his game as well. But as Ian Laperriere said before Friday’s rookie game, he has to be smart about when to pick his spots.

"”We want him to be physical, be engaged. But I don’t want him to be an idiot out there. I want him to play hockey and score goals, that’s why he got drafted in the first round because he’s got a hell of a shot. If he can be physical, he’s gonna have more room out there because guys are gonna, not respect him more, but he’ll make his room by being physical. That’s gonna give him opportunity to score goals.”"

Laperierre added that when he watched Foerster during the World Juniors, he noticed that he was using his body a lot more. He also noted the difference in how he looks from the last time that he saw him, though he was injured at the time.

If Foerster can add other aspects to his game, he is going to be a scary player as Laperierre also mentioned as well. At only 20 years of age, there is plenty of time for him to round out the other areas of his game that are a bit more raw. But he put his shot on full display in front of not only the fans, but the Flyers management as well.

https://twitter.com/nhlflyers/status/1570962481119637505?s=46&t=V6SD02G3QjlyuQYz-2qWlA

It might be tough for him to make the NHL squad out of camp as the Flyers roster is pretty much set on the forward side. It is unknown if Joel Farabee will be ready for the start of the season, though, so there could be an open spot. Noah Cates, who impressed in his 16 games last season, likely has the inside track on a roster spot. But if Foerster can continue to show off his impressive shot and prove he’s added more to his game, we could see him sooner rather than later.