Flyers’ Tyson Foerster likely to miss the rest of the season after arm surgery
Foerster, 23, was leading the team with 10 goals before he suffered the injury on Dec. 1. The team initially hoped he could avoid surgery and return in two to three months.
After a skid-stopping 4-1 road win Tuesday night in Montreal, the Flyers’ vibes were high.
But Wednesday brought a gut punch to the Flyers and their playoff hopes, as the team announced that winger Tyson Foerster will miss the next five months after undergoing arm surgery on Monday. Given the team’s recovery timeline, Foerster’s season likely is over.
“Tyson’s a hockey player. He’s a shooter, he’s intelligent, one of the first PK guys out there,” said coach Rick Tocchet. “He’s obviously really good on the power play; last minute of a game, he’s usually out there. So that’s a big chunk that you’re taking out of the lineup. So it’s a committee thing, and hopefully we get some guys that can step up when he’s out.”
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Foerster, 23, suffered the “upper-body” injury on Dec. 1 against Pittsburgh while attempting a one-timer in the second period. As Foerster followed through on his shot, he immediately dropped to the ice and winced in pain. He then skated off in noticeable pain while holding his right arm.
The Flyers placed Foerster on injured reserve on Dec. 3 and initially said the winger was expected to miss two to three months, which could have had him returning around the February Olympic break. A team source told The Inquirer then that the Flyers were hopeful that the injury would not require surgery and that it could be treated through rehab. On Wednesday, the Flyers’ statement said the decision for Foerster to undergo surgery came “after further medical consultation and diagnostic testing.”
The winger had a separate surgery in the offseason after a right elbow injury he suffered during last spring’s World Championships became infected. After some concern, he returned in time for the start of the regular season.
Before this most recent injury, Foerster was having a career season with a team-high 10 goals and 13 points in 21 games. He was second on the team with a plus-7 rating. Including the last nine games of last season, Foerster had scored 19 goals in his last 30 games, which was tied for 10th in the NHL since March 27.
“Yeah, it’s tough. He’s a big part of our lineup. He was off to a good start, too, so it’s tough to see that, but it’s next-man-up mentality,” captain Sean Couturier said Wednesday, mentioning Carl Grundström. “I think guys have stepped up in his absence. … That’s what you want to see. You want to talk about depth all the time, and you want to use it at times, so here’s an opportunity for different guys. Yeah, it’s tough news, but we’ve got to find a way to fill out that roster spot.”
As Tocchet and Couturier noted, with Foerster likely out for the season, the Flyers will need others to step up offensively, including the likes of Owen Tippett and Bobby Brink. The team also could entertain recalling prospect Alex Bump or a veteran winger like Anthony Richard from Lehigh Valley if it needs an offensive boost. Bump, 22, leads the Phantoms with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), while the 28-year-old Richard, who tallied two goals and six points in 15 games last season for the Flyers, tops the Phantoms’ goal-scoring charts with eight.
But for now, the Flyers seem content to roll with what they have, particularly with Grundström playing so well. Grundström, who was recalled from Lehigh Valley when Foerster was placed on injured reserve, was elevated to the Flyers’ top nine on Tuesday and scored his third goal in five games. The Swedish winger, who has impressed Tocchet with his skating ability, played alongside Couturier and Tippett on Tuesday and has been more effective than Nikita Grebenkin in that top-nine role thus far.
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“I try to bring a lot of energy to the team and play physical and be direct. So I think that’s my style,” Grundström said Monday after morning skate, adding that the Flyers’ style of play fits his game well.
The Flyers will hope Grundström and others can continue to pitch in, as Foerster, one of the team’s top snipers and best defensive forwards, will be a big loss for a team that currently holds a playoff spot as the season approaches the halfway point.
Staff writer Jackie Spiegel contributed to this article.