Is Tyson Foerster on the cusp of a breakout season for the Flyers?

One of the bright spots for the Philadelphia Flyers last season was right-winger Tyson Foerster. There was a lot of speculation regarding the young winger and what his NHL upside would be. He answered a lot of those questions in 2023, but what does 2024 have in store for him?

Who is Tyson Foerster

Foerster was selected 23rd overall in the 2020 draft. The 22-year-old spent a few seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before jumping to the Flyers last season where he burst onto the scene by accumulating 33 points with 20 goals and 13 assists. Many forget, but the winger was healthy scratched for the season opener but remained in the lineup for 77 games since.

The winger also had two game-winning goals and one short-handed goal, a considerable part of last year’s Flyers identity. The rookie was undoubtedly impressive in Philadelphia and didn’t go unnoticed throughout the league. Foerster finished seventh in the Calder trophy, but it is no surprise that Chicago’s Connor Bedard won the award.

What does the future hold for Foerster?

Heading into this season, there are even more expectations on Foerster’s young shoulders after his impressive rookie season. He’s is a good skater who can manoeuvre around the ice effortlessly. His spatial awareness also sets him apart from others in the league. Last season, we saw the Canadian hone his craft on the second line, but his flexibility to contribute on any of the top-3 lines will be invaluable as the team introduces Matvei Michkov to the lineup this upcoming season.

The Flyers didn’t make any huge moves besides bringing Michkov home this offseason, which allows for the younger players on the team to shine more so than ever.

Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, John Tortorella, who was just named as one of the assistant coaches for Team USA for ‘4 Nation Face-Off,‘ has a lot of praise for the younger players on the team. Throughout the season, Tortorella made many positive remarks about Foerster’s play, even if the team faced defeat. It’s clear that Tortorella is a ‘win now’ coach with his track record, but how he handles the young talent shows he truly wants to see development.

One of the more frustrating elements to promising talent is knowing it takes time to grow into roles, but with the season Foerster had last year, it’s clear it will only get better.

As Training Camp nears, it’s safe to assume that Foerster will fight for a top-six role with the orange and black heading into his ‘sophomore’ season. Is he capable? Absolutely.