Prospect Info: Round 1, Pick 23: Tyson Foerster, RW, Barrie (OHL)

[Rebels57]

Scouting Report: Tyson Foerster - Smaht Scouting

Josh Tessler did a nice write-up a while back on Tyson.

Good write-up, though the Radek Dvorak comparison threw me for a loop. I don't remember him for having an elite shot.

 

[Rebels57]

Why would they be biased? This was a pre-draft review by fans of another team.

AV = Alain Vigneault

 

[TheKingPin]

Watching the highlights, he has workable issues with his skating that it looks like are already well underway to be addressed. I don’t like him coasting so much and looking like JVR out there. That plus technical issues and getting some squats and performance training going maybe will bump that up to avg or above avg. if he gets to above avg skating he seems to have a lot of other great things, notably shot, passing and IQ. He could be a very effective player.

Looks like he is another player trending up which has worked well for as opposed to guys who have peaked in the minors.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Why would they be biased? This was a pre-draft review by fans of another team.

AV = Alain Vigneault. You commie bastard.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Yes, but that can burn you and often does. Watching the second round today everyone on nhl network mentioned NOT to draft that way. They didn’t mention the flyers though.

Why do people act like a teenager cannot improve his skating? I am going to wait a couple years to pass judgement. Didn’t teams have concerns about Couturier and his skating coming out of junior? I think he turned out ok.

 

[hystyk1921]

Why do people act like a teenager cannot improve his skating? I am going to wait a couple years to pass judgement. Didn’t teams have concerns about Couturier and his skating coming out of junior? I think he turned out ok.

Coots had mono during his draft year, It’s easier said then done. I played ice and roller hockey for 18 years. Skating to this day is still a problem I have, bad habits from playing roller hockey over the years hurt my skating in ice hockey. It’s completely different and have to change everything. No one trained me or taught me how skate, power skating lessons isn’t cheap. I didn’t have the money as a teenager. Anyway, He is making strides, some of his skating deficiencies are similar to brinks. However there is always risk in taking a player with skating issues, Tavares skating issues yep that was his knock, same with Patrick too. Always a risk whether it’s first overall or pick 210

 

[Striiker]

I must say this is the most anti Hextall selection of all time. THis may be the most anti- flyer selection of all time....and it may be what the doctor ordered. I pray he becomes an average nhl skater.

This isn't a good thing because, regardless of his other flaws, Hextall sure as f*** understood how to build through the draft.

 

[Striiker]

I want to push back a little and say that he's not quite the prototypical "SNIPER". He has a great shot, but he's not burying his head and letting them rip all game. He can get his linemates involved as well. He's a pretty well-rounded dual threat player in the offensive zone.

Which means the people who think we desperately need a sniper won't be satisfied with him.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

Sooooooo, In my super limited viewership, he's a pretty solid player in the offensive zone; smart plays, good passer. He doesn't just put his head down and automatically fire away, like a couple players the Islanders wound up with that you dipshits we're clamoring for. I'm a little worried about how successfully he'll be at entering that zone, but he's not hopeless.

 

[FlyerNutter]

Looking a touch more, and god knows prospect pages and highlights only do so much - but whatevs.

I do like that shot. The skating annoys, but if somehow he gets that figured out and a bit more edge in his game - nothing wrong with a dude who can put them in the net.

Good luck kid.

 

[Magua]

Why do people act like a teenager cannot improve his skating? I am going to wait a couple years to pass judgement. Didn’t teams have concerns about Couturier and his skating coming out of junior? I think he turned out ok.

It's the Red Queen race. You're not improving at your own rate; you have to improve relative to the rate of others too.

I just think people talk about "skating" in generalities. But skating is incredibly complex and everyone is different, so if you want to assess skating and what can and can't improve, you have to get into details. No two ugly skaters are ugly in the same ways. We have to look at top end speed, stride, acceleration, edge work, footwork, skating up ice, skating in the corners, skating with/without the puck, skating with guys on your hip -- and maybe most underrated, skating not just as a physical tool but a mental tool.

Couturier's skating issues were always overblown. He's a long strider, with average footwork, who needed garden variety power skating. Foerster is starting from a lower baseline.

 

[PHILOUDELPHIA]

This is where I miss hextall

 

[Nabrules]

Upside - 30 goal, 65 point upside
Mid tier - 20 goal, 45 point upside
Low end - AHL scorer

really like this pick for us.

 

[Nabrules]

Sooooooo, In my super limited viewership, he's a pretty solid player in the offensive zone; smart plays, good passer. He doesn't just put his head down and automatically fire away, like a couple players the Islanders wound up with that you dipshits we're clamoring for. I'm a little worried about how successfully he'll be at entering that zone, but he's not hopeless.

He definitely won’t be the main puck carrier, which is why he most likely won’t be a C I’m the NHL. (Played half the year at C). As a winger he can defer to Patrick, Frost, Coots or Hayes to do that.

 

[mercury]

More PP goals than ES goals last year is a little concerning.

It was exactly the same. 18 PP goals, 18 ES goals.

 

[CutOnDime97]

This is where I miss hextall

You wanted a Jay O'Brien type pick?

 

[Sombastate]

Rubtsov? Morin? Laughton?

Morin is who I was referencing. Laughton is far from a bust and Rubstov the jury is still out on (but I don't think highly of him)

 

[PHILOUDELPHIA]

You wanted a Jay O'Brien type pick?

I prefer hextall drafting.

If he picked this guy or whoever.

 

[CutOnDime97]

I prefer hextall drafting.

If he picked this guy or whoever.

Just joking. Though I think Fletcher did fine today and yesterday.

 

[BernieParent]

You wanted a Jay O'Brien type pick?

Context was that Hextall had already drafted Farabee at 14 so going off the board for O'Brien is a bit more palatable.

 

[CutOnDime97]

Context was that Hextall had already drafted Farabee at 14 so going off the board for O'Brien is a bit more palatable.

Kidding but just pointing out Hexy wasn't perfect. He had misses too, like everyone.

 

[BernieParent]

Kidding but just pointing out Hexy wasn't perfect. He had misses too, like everyone.

Agreed, and my post was one of those times where the written word seems more serious and combative than spoken. In other words, the great Farabee pick meant Hextall could take a wild swing for the fences with whatever he saw that the world didn't in O'Brien and it wouldn't sting as much. But he certainly did whiff.

 

[Rebels57]

Kidding but just pointing out Hexy wasn't perfect. He had misses too, like everyone.

2016 - Rubtsov, Laberge
2017 - Potentially Patrick
2018 - Potentially O'Brien, Ginning

5 picks in the top 2 rounds between 2016 and 2018 that have cloudy futures or are flat-out busts. He wasnt perfect. Overall though? Very good. Heres the thing though. Most of the scouts are the same and they do the heavy lifting for the GMs.

We will likely have a similar success rate under Fletcher as we did under Hextall unless there's a massive overhaul of the scouting department.

 

[Brock]

Some info on Foerster for you.

I had him ranked 10th among OHL'ers this year.
OHL Prospects: My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft - Part 4: 10-1

Some great quotes from my media/scout polls.
OHL Prospects: Final Media/Scout Top 10 for the 2020 NHL Draft

 

[Magua]

Agreed, and my post was one of those times where the written word seems more serious and combative than spoken. In other words, the great Farabee pick meant Hextall could take a wild swing for the fences with whatever he saw that the world didn't in O'Brien and it wouldn't sting as much. But he certainly did whiff.

JOB remains a curious prospect. I never thought he was a swing for the fences player (I categorized him as typical Flyers high floor-mid ceiling at the time; 2RW upside), he was ranked in the 25-35 range so he wasn't really a reach, and whether he actually is a whiff or not remains to be seen.

Against statistical rationale, I still would consider ranking him above Foerster. I watched several of his Providence games early on, and he looked good. If he does flop in basically his prove it year, then such are the perils of drafting out of high school hockey. If there was a risk to him, it was that. But I don't know where the flaw is in his skill-set. He remains a unique case study.