The Philadelphia Flyers and their fanbase can collectively breath a deep sigh of relief.
Waiting for news on forward Tyson Foerster’s arm injury infection dampened enthusiasm about the team’s offseason.
However, Flyers general manager Briere said on Thursday that the 23 year old winger is “on track” in his recovery.
Colleague Bill Meltzer reported on HockeyHotStove.com that Foerster could be in the Flyers lineup for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Foerster had signed a two year, $7.5 million extension on May 29, coming off a strong finish to his 2024-25 season with 25 goals and 43 points in 81 games played.
Now, he is likely back in the Flyers early season plans as they prepare for their first campaign under new head coach Rick Tocchet.
With Foerster’s probable return, Tocchet has additional options in how he might configure his lineups.
But it could affect ice time opportunities for players like Alex Bump, Trevor Zegras, Jett Luchanko, and Devin Kaplan.
Foerster Injury Timeline
Foerster suffered an arm injury playing for Team Canada during the IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Denmark. He missed one game in the tournament, then returned to the lineup.
Following the tournament, medical evaluations showed that he suffered a serious infection that put his regular season debut in jeopardy.
“(Foerster) came and saw our doctors and they decided they had to go in and remove the infection,” Briere said on July 1. “What I’m finding out is it takes a long time for all the samples to come back negative and that’s what we’re still waiting on. We don’t know.”
“At that point, we’ll reevaluate and see if more needs to be done. Or if we’re lucky enough, that’s the end of it and he can move on and be ready for the start of the season. But there’s no guarantee of that, so we’re sitting and waiting right now to see how serious it is or not.”
Responding via text, Briere said that Foerster had responded well to his treatment regimen, putting him on his current track.
How Does Foerster Fits Upon Return?
While Briere hesitated to say that Foerster is completely healed from his injury, there is belief from the organization that he will be playing when the puck drops in October.
Last season saw Foerster struggle with offensive consistency. But when he was united with center Noah Cates and winger Bobby Brink, they formed one of the Flyers’ most effective lines.
Foerster finished the season on a tear, scoring nine goals in the final nine games of the season, including a hat trick against the Rangers on April 9.
The natural chemistry and balance of that unit with Cates’ strong two way game and Brink’s relentlessness seemed a natural match for him.
Will Tocchet put them together again or will he take a conservative approach, considering Foerster’s recovery timeline?
Does Bump Get “Bumped” From the Lineup?
One of the players most prominently mentioned as a potential candidate for an injured Foerster’s minutes is rookie winger Alex Bump.
Now with Foerster back in the picture, the early season picture isn’t as clear for him.
Bump was one of college hockey’s top players last season with Western Michigan, scoring 27 goals and 47 points. After leading the Broncos to an NCAA title, he joined the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ playoff run on a tryout contract.
After scoring three points (one goal) in the final two games of the season, Bump had a two goal game in Game One of the Phantoms first round series. However, in the second round against the Hershey Bears, he struggled to find space.
The fact that Bump is a natural left wing should work to his advantage in battling for a roster spot. A solid frame (6’1, 205lbs) and willingness to make plays in traffic helps his candidacy.
But consistency will tell the tale as to whether Tocchet will give him the ice time.
If it isn’t there from the beginning, it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets some additional AHL seasoning first.
Zegras Considerations
The most exciting acquisition of the Flyers offseason could also be affected by Foerster’s return.
Forward Trevor Zegras is seen as one of the key parts of the team’s attempt at an offensive renaissance. He plays with a hockey intelligence that rivals Matvei Michkov’s.
As a center or as a wing, Tocchet will be looking to use him to gain an edge on the attack and the power play.
However, he faces questions when it comes to his health and consistency.
“This is why (Zegras) was available in the first place,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said to reporters. “Top-six talent is very rarely available around the NHL. We felt that was a risk worth taking for us. We’ve seen him in the past. He had those really good seasons at 20 and 21 years old.”
Much like Bump, he has to earn Tocchet’s trust, even with a track record of multiple 60-plus points seasons.
If he doesn’t embrace the defensive concepts that the head coach is likely to use, his five on five ice time could suffer as a result.
Luchanko’s and Kaplan’s Prospects
Young forwards Jett Luchanko and Devin Kaplan also might face more limited opportunities.
While Luchanko is a center, he is already facing an uphill battle to make the Flyers roster with Cates, Zegras, and Christian Dvorak in the mix. That could lead him to another season in the OHL.
If he manages to impress Tocchet, it’s entirely possible that he could force a player like Cates to wing, but is centering the fourth line the best thing for his development?
Kaplan was mentioned by Briere prominently as a possible fill-in for Foerster. Unless he impresses in the preseason, the 6’3, 201-lb winger is likely headed to the Phantoms in this scenario.
LETS GO FLYERS