The Flyers have opened up a roster question by placing forward Garrett Wilson on waivers, and the move points to something else coming soon.
Philadelphia’s announcement didn’t say anything beyond that. No added context, no follow-up, just Wilson on the waiver wire. The most likely outcome is that he’s headed back to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Wilson, 35, has been on the NHL roster mainly as a veteran presence. The young players know him well from their time together in Lehigh Valley, and he stuck with the Flyers through training camp before beginning the season with the club as extra depth. But with the Flyers 12 games into the season and trying to keep their winning streak alive, there’s less room for players who are not making a real impact at the NHL level.
The Barrie, Ont. native appeared in two games this season, recording eight hits and one blocked shot while averaging 9:49 of ice time. From here, the expectation is that he’ll spend most, if not all, of the season back with the Phantoms, where he can serve as a steady veteran voice for a younger group that includes Jett Luchanko and Spencer Gill.
The move also hints that Philadelphia may be getting a player back from injury. The Flyers currently have a full 23-man roster, with Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Cam York, and Rasmus Ristolainen all on Injured Reserve. That setup has allowed the team to make room for replacements, but waiving Wilson suggests another roster spot may be needed for a returning player.
The exact name is still unclear. According to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, Konecny remains day-to-day and is expected to begin skating soon, which makes it unlikely he’s the one available for Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
York and Ristolainen have both been seen skating before Flyers practices, though there hasn’t been a recent update on either player. Even with Wilson listed as a forward, moving him out would make sense if either defenseman is ready to come back.
Tippett is another possibility. He was placed on IR retroactive to Oct. 15, so his seven-day minimum would be up for Saturday. Still, there has been no indication of how close he is to returning.
For now, the clearest read is that Philadelphia is preparing for at least one injured player to rejoin the lineup as the Flyers try to keep rolling after a three-game winning streak.
There’s also the more entertaining possibility: a trade. Clearing a roster spot always invites speculation, and the Flyers have reportedly been looking for an early-season move to shake up the roster and maybe push themselves back into the playoff mix.
They do have a crowded wing group, and with players like Cole Knuble and Oliver Bonk making strong impressions, there may be pieces Philadelphia could move around in pursuit of help at center or on the blue line. That said, a trade remains only a possibility. The waiver move could still be nothing more than the necessary cleanup before an injured player comes off IR.
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