Flyers Agree: Tyson Foerster Has Huge Potential (+)

It’s not every day that you hear of a rookie forward with 26 points being a massive loss for an NHL team in a playoff spot. The impact of Tyson Foerster transcends the scoring department for the Philadelphia Flyers, and his absence was significant for the team both on and off the ice.

Flyers head coach John Tortorella has spoken to great length many times this season about the improvement of the locker room. Even as a first-timer in the NHL, Foerster has played a big part in that improvement.

“Big fan of the way he plays!” Sean Couturier told Philly Hockey Now after a recent practice. “He’s a good pro. It just shows his maturity — not worrying about points and all of that stuff and trying to find a way to help the team.”

“He’s a big part of this team,” Garnet Hathaway agreed. “We’ve missed him in our lineup when he’s been out, and it’s going to be great to get him back.”

After missing four games with a lower-body injury, Foerster made his triumphant return to the Flyers’ lineup over the weekend, scoring a goal in a career-high 21:01 of ice time in the 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Then he scored again. And again.

Foerster followed that up with two goals and an assist for the Flyers against the Pittsburgh Penguins, another Metropolitan Division rival jousting for a playoff spot. The 22-year-old added a highlight-reel goal to his resume on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, crossing over to his backhand between his legs and embarrassing Andrei Vasilevskiy with a well-placed shot for the Flyers’ second goal of the game.

Suddenly, Foerster has 14 goals, 12 assists, and 26 points and is within shouting distance of an impressive 20-goal, 40-point debut campaign in the NHL.

“He’s playing with more confidence,” Tortorella assessed. “Those guys, when they start scoring some goals, the puck tends to follow them around, and they feel more comfortable with it.

The thing for me is he didn’t forget the other parts. He did the work on the walls. Pucks out. He’s just a smart player.”