The prospect tournament runs through Tuesday and precedes the opening of training camp Sept. 13 in Columbus, but Foudy's hectic summer has taught him how to keep his focus narrow - concentrating only on the challenge in front of him.
"It's about getting used to 5-on-5 and winning games," he said of the tournament, which is the first time the Blue Jackets' front office will see him compete in a regular-format game alongside other Columbus prospects. "We want to win this tournament. We are going to go there with the mentality that we want to win this."
Last year, the Jackets nearly did win it. Led by center Pierre-Luc Dubois, they made the championship game before falling to the Chicago Blackhawks - the team this year's Columbus prospects team opens tournament play against Friday afternoon (4 p.m., Fox Sports Go).
Foudy is one of 10 players either drafted or signed as free agents by the Blue Jackets, but the bulk of this team is comprised of 14 free-agent invitees looking to impress either the Blue Jackets or another team enough to get an invite to training camp.
One of those free agents is Billy Moskal, who happens to be Foudy's teammate in the OHL on the London Knights. Moskal, 18, wasn't selected in the 2018 NHL Draft. He'll be draft-eligible again next season, unless he's able to impress a team enough to earn a contract offer to join a franchise as an undrafted free agent.
"For me personally, it's a good spot," said Moskal, who had seven goals, 19 assists and 26 points in 66 games for the Knights last season. "Obviously, I want to make Columbus, but it's good for me because all of the teams there can watch me play."
Moskal's been working hard this offseason, on and off the ice, with the goal of earning a spot in training camp with the Jackets. He spent significant time in the gym, adding size and strength, and also made an effort to skate with some of the Blue Jackets' top players - including an NHL veteran who's from the same hometown in Ontario.
"Last month I was skating with [Columbus captain] Nick Foligno quite a bit," Moskal said. "He lives in Sudbury, where I'm from, so [I was] skating with him in the mornings and then working out."
As for Foudy and Moskal, the Knights teammates are excited to take the ice together in Traverse City as Blue Jackets - even if it turns out to be a week spent in scenic Traverse City. Moskal wasn't in the projected lineup against the Blackhawks but will get a chance to prove himself during the tournament.
He might even get a few shifts with Foudy.
"It's great to know someone," Moskal said. "You come to these things and you don't always know someone. I've been playing with him for two years now. Hopefully we get to play together a bit. We have that chemistry."
Foudy feels the same.
"It's nice having some comfort knowing some of the guys and having Billy here," he said. "Hopefully we get put together a few times. It'll be fun to play with him."
