Entry Draft. Atlanta Thrashers (2001–2004) After being acquired by Atlanta, the team moved Foster (who was playing junior hockey at the time with Peterborough in OHL) to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the remainder of the 2001–02 season. In 39 games with the Wolves, Foster scored 6 goals and 15 points, helping the club reach the playoffs. In the playoffs, Foster scored 1 goal and 2 points in 14 games, helping the Wolves win the Calder Cup. Foster spent a majority of the 2002–03 season with the Wolves, where in 75 games, he scored 15 goals and 42 points, which were the highest total of any defenceman on the team. Foster also accumulated 159 penalty minutes, the second highest total on the team. In nine playoff games, he scored a goal and four points. He earned a brief call-up to the NHL with the Thrashers at the end of March. On March 31, he played in his first career NHL game, earning no points in a 4–3 victory over the New York Rangers. In two games with Atlanta, Foster had no points. Foster again spent most of the 2003–04 season with the Wolves, as he scored 11 goals and 30 points in 67 games with Chicago. In ten playoff games, he earned three assists. He also appeared in three games with the Thrashers during the 2003–04 NHL season. On February 3, Foster earned his first career NHL point, an assist, in a 5–4 loss to the Boston Bruins. In three games with Atlanta, Foster had one assist. Following the season, Foster won the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, awarded to the best AHL Player in the Community. On June 26, 2004, Foster was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for defenceman Niclas Hävelid. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2004–2005) With the 2004–05 NHL lock-out cancelling the entire 2004–05 NHL season, Foster spent the entire year with the Mighty Ducks' AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks for their 2004–05 AHL season. In 78 games with Cincinnati, he scored 17 goals and 42 points, helping the team reach the playoffs. His goals and points totals led all Cincinnati defencemen that season. In nine playoff games, he scored two goals and five points. Following the season, Foster became a free agent. Minnesota Wild (2005–2009) On August 4, 2005, Foster signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild. He