Flyers add veteran forward Garrett Wilson on two-way deal
Philadelphia signed forward Garrett Wilson to a one-year, two-way contract carrying an $850,000 NHL cap hit. The 35-year-old spent most of 2025-26 with AHL Lehigh Valley, serving as captain, and also appeared in three games for the Flyers. He was Philadelphia's PHWA nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Wilson, 35, returns to Philadelphia after a season mostly spent captaining AHL Lehigh Valley. In 54 AHL appearances he posted four goals, 16 points, and 101 penalty minutes, while also skating three NHL games with no points, three shots, and five penalty minutes. The Philadelphia PHWA chapter nominated him for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
A 2009 fourth-round pick by Florida, Wilson won an OHL championship in 2011. He has played 87 NHL games for Florida, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, totaling two goals, eight points, and 47 penalty minutes, plus 10 playoff games. His AHL career includes 156 goals, 353 points, and 1,375 penalty minutes over 16 seasons.
This signing may matter most to Flyers and Lehigh Valley fans, who could see a familiar leader remain in the organization. It may also resonate with older minor-league players, showing that long AHL careers can still yield NHL opportunities. The two-way deal could provide organizational depth and mentorship, while his Masterton nomination may draw attention to perseverance in hockey. Its broader societal impact is likely limited, but it could reinforce local sports community ties.