Flyers Sign Phantoms Captain Garrett Wilson to Two‑Way Contract, Placed on Waivers

The Philadelphia Flyers announced they have signed forward Garrett Wilson to a two-way NHL contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and placed him on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the club said in an official release on March 5, 2026 according to General Manager Daniel Briere. The move preserves roster flexibility ahead of the trade deadline while putting a veteran leader back on the Flyers’ organizational ledger, pending waiver clearance that multiple outlets expect will happen.

Wilson, 34 (born March 16, 1991), is a 6-foot-3, 218-pound winger from Barrie, Ontario who is in his sixth season with Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms promoted him into the leadership group in 2020, he served as an alternate captain from 2020-23 and as captain from 2023-26. During his time in Allentown Wilson has skated in 338 games, scoring 62 goals and 86 assists for 148 points with the franchise, and the team’s release celebrated the move with the headline, “Allentown, PA - Congrats to the Captain!” The Phantoms’ statement added that “Wilson has received endless accolades and compliments from coaches, teammates, and management for his leadership and professionalism as well as the example he sets in helping lead the way while guiding the young prospects on the Phantoms who are experiencing the rigors of a professional season for the first time.”

Across his AHL career Wilson has played in 751 games for San Antonio, Portland, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Toronto and Lehigh Valley, compiling 156 goals and 197 assists for 353 AHL points while amassing 1,373 career AHL penalty minutes, a total the Phantoms say ranks 63rd all-time and is the most among active AHL players. This season with Lehigh Valley he has 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) in 51 games and has missed only one contest, per the Flyers’ announcement.

Wilson’s NHL résumé includes 84 career games with the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording two goals and six assists for eight points. Sources differ on his playoff appearances with Pittsburgh during his last NHL stretch in 2018-19; some reports list four postseason games while the Phantoms’ release indicates 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games — an item that will require verification from official NHL game logs.

The practical roster angle is clear: signing Wilson to a two-way deal gives Philadelphia an experienced, physical option for fourth-line minutes while maintaining salary-cap and waiver mechanics. Local beat coverage framed the move as potential insurance amid trade chatter around Nicolas Deslauriers, and league reporting noted the expectation Wilson will clear waivers and return to Lehigh Valley under the new contract. For the Phantoms, the transaction is a formal reward for six seasons of service in Lehigh Valley; for Flyers management the deal buys veteran presence for prospects and short-term insurance as the club navigates deadline decisions.

Whether Wilson draws back onto the NHL roster or clears waivers and resumes his captaincy in Lehigh Valley, the deal cements his role as a veteran bridge between the Flyers and their AHL prospects at a moment when leadership and toughness remain prized commodities in both player development and playoff preparation.