It’s not the move fans were expecting to see, or maybe even hoping for, on the eve of the trade deadline, but the Philadelphia Flyers have announced they have officially signed veteran forward Garrett Wilson to a two-way NHL contract.
The current captain of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms was subsequently placed on waivers for the purpose of reassignment.
The 34-year-old has been a staple for the Phantoms since the 2020-21 season. Over the last 6 years, Wilson has scored 62 goals and 148 points across 338 games. He served as the team’s alternate captain from 2020 to 2023, before being appointed captain from 2023 onwards.
Prior to his arrival to the Phantoms, Wilson was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 4th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He spent several years in their minor league system from 2011-12 to 2015-16 before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
In his 3 years spent with the Penguins, he primarily played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from 2016-17 to 2018-19 before earning a 50-game stint with the big club in 2018-19, whereupon he added 2 goals and 8 points.
Over his NHL career, the 6’3”, 218 pound winger has 2 goals and 8 points in 84 games. He’s had 4 stints at the NHL-level, 3 of which came as a member of the Panthers, but hasn’t played in an NHL game since 2018-19.
His signing to a two-way NHL contract comes off the heels of rumours swirling that forward Nicolas Deslauriers could be on the move ahead of the trade deadline tomorrow. The Flyers could be trying to find the veteran a new home in an attempt to give him an opportunity at a run for the Stanley Cup.
Wilson’s addition would primarily be to serve in a depth role for the Flyers’ bottom-6. Currently on the season, the Barrie, Ontario native, has 4 goals and 16 points in 51 games for the Phantoms.
With less than 24 hours remaining until the trade deadline, rumours will be swirling aplenty as Flyers fans will be waiting in anticipation on what the club intends on doing with in-demand defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
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