With their third pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 127th overall in the fourth round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected a workhorse – center Aiden Foster from the Prince George Cougars of the WHL.
18-year old Foster, 6’2”, 182lbs is known for his aggressive play and not having any fear in being physical on the ice. He’s a hard-hitting forward who can change directions quickly, is speedy down the ice to chase opponents down, and isn’t afraid to “drop the gloves or engage in some gamemaniship,” as put by Elite Prospects.
He was ranked 89th among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings as well.
All scouting reports note Foster as a player who plays physical, doesn’t shy away from contact, and plays a “hard-nosed,” style game that fans will love. When fans go to Hockey games, yeah they want their team to win, but who doesn’t love an old-fashioned scuffle on the court? Fans come for the goals, but also for the entertainment, and Foster will foster some entertainment points from the fans in Tampa Bay.
Foster had 136 penalty minutes in 2025 which was the third most in the WHL in 2025.
Foster succeeds most on the defensive side of the ice. He averages 3.1 takeaways per game. He averages 6:57 of his time on ice on the defensive end and averages 1:01 of penalty-killing time per game.
As noted above, he has a strong ability change directions swiftly and skates quickly as well, allowing him to cover the ice effectively and help out offensively as well or chase down opponents.
In 2024-25 with the Cougars, Foster scored 11 goals, had nine assists, a total of 20 points, and was -2 on the year.
Not only is Foster a great player ON THE ICE, but he is described by his teammates as being a phenomenal teammate and friend OFF THE ICE, which is an important characteristic the Lightning look for. He’s known for having his teammates’ back and always being there for them. “Just a good team player,” said Josh Ravensbergen, goalie for the Cougars