The Philadelphia Flyers received confirmation this week that forward Tyson Foerster is expected to be available for the start of the 2025–26 NHL season. On Thursday, August 14, Bill Meltzer of Hockey Hot Stove reported that general manager Danny Brière said, “Everything looks good right now and Foerster should be ready for the season.” The Flyers open their schedule on October 9.
Foerster, 23, underwent surgery this offseason to address an elbow infection that developed after an injury sustained while playing for Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Brière stated on July 1 that team doctors decided surgery was necessary to remove the infection and that they were waiting for all samples to come back negative before determining whether further procedures would be needed. At that time, he said there was no guarantee Foerster would be ready for the season and that the team was waiting to see how serious the issue was.
In 2024–25, Foerster ranked second on the Flyers with 25 goals, following a 20-goal rookie season in 2023–24. He played on a line with Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, which former interim head coach Brad Shaw in April described as being used regularly against opponents’ top units and praised for its penalty-killing and five-on-five defensive play.
The update on Foerster’s status coincides with movement in betting markets. As of August 15, ESPN BET lists the Flyers at +7500 to win the 2026 Stanley Cup. Covers shows a price of +6600 to win the Stanley Cup, +3300 to win the Eastern Conference, and +3000 to win the Metropolitan Division. BetMGM’s futures board in Ontario lists the Flyers’ regular-season point total at 84.5, with Over priced at 1.95 and Under at 1.80 in decimal odds, and playoff qualification odds at Yes 3.50 and No 1.30. Earlier in the offseason, FanDuel had the Flyers at +8000 on June 18, and DraftKings listed them at +10000 on June 17. ESPN BET’s current board lists Florida at +600 and Carolina and Colorado at +800.
At the end of May, Foerster signed a two-year contract with the Flyers worth $7.5 million. In April, he said he liked playing in Philadelphia and wanted to improve every day, adding that he was happy to be with the team regardless of the length of the deal.
According to the Flyers’ current roster situation, they have $370,000 in salary cap space with 23 players on the roster. The team expects to assign goaltender Ivan Fedotov to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms before the start of the season, along with either Noah Juulsen or Dennis Gilbert, both veteran defensemen signed in free agency. Those assignments would create approximately $2 million in cap space.
The Flyers also recently received clarity in the Ryan Johansen grievance, with arbitration siding with the team. Foerster’s return projects him into a left-wing group with Owen Tippett, Nick Deslauriers, and Alex Bump. Players Nikita Grebenkin, Anthony Richard, and Rodrigo Abols also have opportunities, though roster spots will be limited unless Bump does not secure a place by the end of training camp and preseason.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen remains an injury concern. He suffered a season-ending triceps injury for the second consecutive year and is not expected to participate in training camp, though there is a possibility he could be ready for opening night.
