Tyler Pitlick, Adam Ginning Clear Waivers - What’s Next for the Veteran Forward and the Flyers Prospect?
Two names hit the NHL waiver wire over the weekend - veteran forward Tyler Pitlick and Flyers blueliner Adam Ginning - and both cleared, as confirmed on Sunday. But while the process was the same, the implications for each player tell two very different stories.
Pitlick’s Role as a Roster Flex for Minnesota
Tyler Pitlick, 34, has been navigating the NHL-AHL shuttle this season, and his latest trip through waivers was less about performance and more about logistics. NHL rules require players who’ve played in 10 or more games or spent 30 days on the NHL roster to clear waivers again before being reassigned. Pitlick hit that mark, triggering this latest move.
He’s currently expected to stay with the Minnesota Wild for now, but if reassigned, he’d return to AHL Iowa, where he’s been productive in limited action - three goals in five games. While he hasn’t registered a point in 15 NHL games this season, he’s brought a physical edge, racking up 22 penalty minutes and providing veteran presence in a bottom-six role.
Pitlick signed a two-year, two-way deal this past offseason, returning to his hometown team with the understanding that he’d be a depth piece. And that’s exactly what he’s been - a reliable plug-and-play option for a Wild team that’s dealt with injuries and lineup shuffling. His $775,000 cap hit is manageable, and his experience from 2016 to 2022 as a regular NHLer gives Minnesota a known commodity to call on when needed.
Ginning’s Waiver Trip Signals a Critical Juncture
Adam Ginning’s situation is a bit more layered. At 25, the 6’3” Swedish defenseman was once seen as a potential long-term piece on the Flyers’ blue line after being selected in the second round back in 2018. But to this point, he’s struggled to carve out a consistent NHL role.
Ginning has appeared in five games for Philadelphia this season without registering a point, and across 16 total NHL games in his career, he has just one goal to his name. He’s been passed on the organizational depth chart by younger, more dynamic players like Emil Andrae, and with his contract set to expire at season’s end, this year feels like a make-or-break moment.
The Flyers are in a transitional phase under new head coach Rick Tocchet, and Ginning hasn’t yet seized the opportunity to solidify himself in the lineup. Clearing waivers opens the door for him to return to AHL Lehigh Valley, where he’s expected to resume top-pairing duties for a Phantoms team off to a solid 11-6-1 start.
While there’s always a chance a team thin on defense might’ve taken a flyer on Ginning, the fact that he cleared suggests NHL teams see him more as a depth option than a developmental priority. That doesn’t mean the door is closed, but the window is narrowing.
What It Means Moving Forward
For Pitlick, this is familiar territory - a veteran depth forward who knows his role and can step in when needed. He’s not flashy, but he’s trusted, and that keeps him in the mix. Whether he sticks around with the Wild or heads back to Iowa, he’ll be ready when the next opportunity arises.
For Ginning, the path is less clear. With his waiver status settled, the focus shifts to what he can do in the AHL to earn another look.
The tools are there - size, physicality, defensive instincts - but the clock is ticking. If he’s going to make a case to stay in the NHL long-term, it’ll have to start with standout play in Lehigh Valley.
Both players cleared waivers, but their trajectories couldn’t be more different. Pitlick is a steady hand who knows the drill.
Ginning is a former prospect still looking to prove he belongs. The next few months will be telling for both.