Getting to Know: Foerster and Pashin
Two wingers could be available in second, third rounds
The Detroit Red Wings have three second-round picks -- their own, the Edmonton Oilers' pick (acquired in the trade that sent Andreas Athanasiou to Edmonton) and the Washington Capitals' pick (acquired in the trade that sent Nick Jensen to Washington).
For the next several weeks, DetroitRedWings.com will take a look at some of the players, one North American and one international each week, who are likely to be available.
This week there are a couple of right wings to examine, starting with Tyson Foerster of the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts.
Foerster, who is 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, had 36 goals, 44 assists and 53 penalty minutes in 62 games last season.
#NHLDraft prospect @tfoerster8 followed up his 23-point rookie campaign with an explosive sophomore season, leading the @OHLBarrieColts with a spectacular 3️⃣6️⃣🚨 and 8️⃣0️⃣ points on the year 📽️ pic.twitter.com/mFjqaIu2Fb
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 18, 2020
NHL Central Scouting had Foerster 21st among North American skaters in its final rankings, released April 8.
Watch: Youtube Video
Craig Button, TSN's director of scouting, had Foerster 15th overall on his final Craig's List.
Button's TSN colleague, Bob McKenzie, ranked Foerster 29th.
Barrie Colts forward Tyson Foerster has been on fire this season. Most consistent Colts player this year has really carried the team at times. High motor, high IQ, two-way effort and an elite one timer. Best of all the kid does it with a smile on his face 24/7. #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/bL1FcOr6sb
— Matt (@95morrison) July 17, 2020
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler had Foerster 35th in his final ranking for the 2020 NHL Draft's top 100 prospects.
"Foerster was a driver of offense on a team that needed it in Barrie this season and he just kept getting better as the year went along," Wheeler said. "When it was all said and done, his 80 points ranked fifth among first-year draft eligibles in the OHL. I was particularly impressed by his second half when, after the Colts dealt the bulk of their core, he continued to produce. He was also impressive at the CHL Top Prospects Game, where he made a trio of superb plays off the rush. He's an excellent shooter, particularly in catch-and-release scenarios in motion.
"After the Colts traded Ryan Suzuki on Jan. 10, Foerster went on a 13-game point streak to close out the season with 33 points in his final 25 games. I worry his skating and pace of play may not be high-end enough to reach his true potential, but if he can make some progress there, he's got the rest."
Tyson Foerster (@tfoerster8) jumped from 23 points as a rookie to lead the @OHLBarrieColts in scoring with 80 as a sophomore, finishing as North America’s 21st ranked #NHLDraft prospect.#MeetTheFuture presented by @KubotaCanadaLtd 🎥: https://t.co/urT4UVyYjP pic.twitter.com/6Z6BbD65lN
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 5, 2020
The Athletic's Corey Pronman placed Foerster 46th in his 2020 NHL Draft Board: Top 122 prospects.
"Foerster had a great season, scoring 36 goals and 80 points in 62 OHL games, generating a lot of shots as a driving force for Barrie even after Ryan Suzuki was traded," Pronman noted. "Foerster's shot is the first thing scouts bring up. He has an absolute cannon. He can one-time from the circles and beat goalies clean, which is a highly desirable skill. Foerster is also a high-end passer who can find seams consistently, which combined with his shot, makes him very dangerous on the power play.
"The main issue with Foerster is his skating. His stride is awkward, he hunches over, it breaks down often and prevents him from being dangerous on entries. I debated between a 55 and a 60 for his puck skills. When you watch him in practice it's clear he has tremendous hands, and in games you can see it come out, but he rarely executes, which may be due to a lack of quickness and not a lack of skill. I don't see him as a physical player who will PK in the NHL, but he works on the ice and wins enough engagements."
With the #NHLdraft approaching I think it's a good time to showcase the work that @tfoerster8 of the @OHLBarrieColts has put in on his stride this summer to date. I've included some simple technical pics as well as a slo-mo video in the thread below to help explain all he's done: pic.twitter.com/BnTgTuKcOb
— Paul Matheson (@Paul__Matheson) September 9, 2020
Red Line Report also placed Foerster 46th overall, saying, "We love everything about his game. He's got a prototypical power winger's frame that is only going to get stronger. Has elite vision and hockey sense in all three zones, and is a highly imaginative playmaker. He does everything at a pro level. Has a wicked shot with a lightning release. Extremely smart and patient. Deadly sniper. Big, strong, and rugged. Plays a physical game and is strong in puck battles. Goes to all the right areas at the right times. Has excellent hands and fine playmaking skills. Strong work ethic. He simply can not skate. Not even a little bit. Lacks both first step quickness and a top-end gear. Struggles in transition and to keep his feet moving. And the problem is not a lack of leg strength. It's a short, ugly, knock- kneed stride. We don't know if that can be fixed. If it could, you'd be looking at a top-15 pick."
Over in Russia, right win Alexander Pashin, who is small at 5-foot-8, 154 pounds, had 17 goals, 22 assists and 35 penalty minutes in 37 games for Ufa in the MHL.
NHL Central Scouting had Pashin 22nd among international skaters.
TSN's Button ranked Pashin 47th while McKenzie placed him 89th overall.
The Athletic's Wheeler had Pashin 65th on his final rankings while Pronman had him 54th.
"Pashin was a top player for one of the best teams in Russia's junior league," Pronman said. "But he was up and down in international play for Russia's U18 team. He is a player who ticks a lot of the boxes you're looking for in a skill set. Pashin has great hands. His small area play is high-end and he's so tough to strip pucks off due to how slippery he is. That he can skate very well and make highly skilled plays in motion makes him very dangerous. Pashin is also a player who moves the puck and finishes plays, with his vision being more impressive between the two.
"He is tiny at 5-foot-8, but Pashin is a competitor who I've seen push much bigger players off pucks and kill penalties effectively."
I really like Alexander Pashin's game!
— Tony Ferrari (@theTonyFerrari) April 16, 2020
Here he controls the zone entry, curls back and attacks the slot. He loses the puck but then fades to the backside and attacks the net to bang in the rebound.
But remember, he's too small and won't be able to get to the net. #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/sz5PrwwFXN
Dobber Hockey said, "Pashin is an exciting player to watch. He's small and loves to utilize his great skating ability and great hands to make flashy plays. He isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice and he's good at picking pockets but his all-around game leaves much to be desired, especially because it's so inconsistent. He often cheats for offense instead of supporting his team defensively. Pashin is a boom-or-bust type player and a long-term project because he needs to play an offensive role in the NHL if he ever gets to that level."
A monster shift from Alexander Pashin.
— Mathis Desjardins (@m_desjardins00) April 25, 2020
He's directly involved (shot or shot assist) in four (4!!) scoring opportunities on the same shift.#2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/7293lUnuaU
Red Line Report ranked Pashin 62nd overall, saying, "High-energy ball of fire is a dynamic offensive force. Tiny, but size shouldn't hold him back - keeps feet moving all the time and his motor running without the puck. Very quick and elusive - supremely sharp cuts on edges to gain separation in tight quarters. Blows past even top d-men with his speed, and has the fast hands and slick moves to make any defender look silly in 1-on-1 situations off the rush. Does everything at an insanely high tempo - just seems to be operating at a different pace than everyone else on the ice.
Tweet from @HeresYourReplay: Alexander Pashin1-0 RUS#HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/tWYuE2tUc1
"But was the biggest disappointment of the season for RLR. For all his great skills, frequently didn't compete hard and often looked to avoid hits. Even when flying, mostly skated around the perimeter waiting for pucks to come to him. Frustrating - has the capacity to elevate his game when it matters most. Scored five goals in the Semis and Finals of last summer's Hlinka Cup."
Alexander Pashin gets his second goal of the game to put Russia up 3-1 halfway through the third. #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/wU99P1HIZc
— Caitlin Berry (@caitlinsports) August 10, 2019