Flyers’ Garrett Wilson, 34, a testament of perseverance as he prepares for first NHL game in over six years

On an American Hockey League deal and as the captain of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Garrett Wilson wasn’t expecting to get any news around the NHL trade deadline.

But he did.

“I was in the room in Lehigh, and I didn’t have my phone on me. And then the trainer came and said, ‘Hey, check your phone,’ kind of thing,” the soon-to-be 35-year-old recalled. “So I didn’t know what was going on. A little nerve-wracking, a little bit.”

The call wasn’t for a trade. Instead, on the Thursday before the deadline, the Flyers signed the hulking 6-foot-3, 218-pound winger to a two-way deal for the remainder of the season.

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The contract included an AHL deal for next season. According to Puckpedia, the contract is for $775,000 at the NHL level.

“Obviously, unreal character guy ... and just a guy that I think can really add, if he plays, some toughness,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “But also just a great locker room guy. Doesn’t hurt you on the ice either.”

The bench boss said Flyers general manager Danny Brière had approached him recently about making the move. Although he doesn’t know him well, Tocchet and Wilson’s paths did cross previously in Pittsburgh. Tocchet was an assistant coach with the Penguins when Wilson was in the minor league system; he was called up as a “Black Ace,” basically a practice player, during the 2017 postseason, which ended with a Stanley Cup.

Now the “pretty hard-nose” player known for sticking up for his teammates has a chance to help the Flyers make a postseason push as they enter Saturday just five points out of a playoff spot. The Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets (7:30 p.m., NBCSP), who are hot on the heels of the Boston Bruins for the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

“Anytime you’re in the mix for the playoffs is special,” Wilson said. “This time of year, it kind of fits my game. I like playing this style of hockey when the stakes are high, and the last time I was in the NHL, I made the playoffs with the Penguins, and I was in the playoffs once with the Florida Panthers, too.

“So it’s a special time of year. It’s why we play hockey, to get to the playoffs and chase down the mug.”

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Panthers, Wilson has two goals, eight points, and 42 penalty minutes across 84 career regular-season games, and a goal and an assist in 10 playoff games at the NHL level. His last NHL game was a playoff game on April 16, 2019, for the Penguins.

With the Phantoms since the 2020-21 season, Wilson has 16 points and a team-leading 101 penalty minutes in 54 games this season. Wilson, who turns 35 on Monday, has played 754 AHL games for San Antonio, Portland, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Toronto, and Lehigh Valley. He is Lehigh Valley’s all-time leader in games played (341) and ranks fourth in goals (62) and points (148).

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Wilson prides himself on mentoring the youngsters in Allentown by showing them how to be pros and how to act around the rink and take care of the staff. But he’s also teaching them the power of perseverance.

“It’s an unreal opportunity. [Keith Jones] and Brière giving me this opportunity is just first class by them. I want to show them that I can still play in this league. It has been a while, but you don’t know if your window is ever going to be fully closed. You just got to work hard every day, and sometimes stuff like this happens.”

Egor Zamula was back at the Flyers Training Center on Saturday, this time as a visitor.

Traded by the Flyers to the Penguins on Dec. 31 for Philip Tomasino, the defenseman was signed by the Blue Jackets six days later after clearing unconditional waivers after he and the Penguins agreed to terminate his contract.

“I just feel awful this year,” Zamula told The Inquirer on Saturday. “I want to change something because I spent too many years [here]. I remember when I signed here, it’s [Sean Couturier], [Travis Sanheim], and [Travis Konecny]. Now it’s a lot of new guys, young, so pretty much full organization doing a rebuild.

“And I spent probably seven years or eight years here, and I know it’s every year it’s the same, and I’m by myself here, it’s pretty tough. So I tell myself, I need a new challenge for me with new friends and a new jersey as well. And so I’m pretty happy to be in Columbus.”

Signed by the Flyers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, Zamula’s trajectory had stalled, with both former coach John Tortorella and Tocchet questioning his ability to process the game quickly despite his puck-moving abilities.

But for him, the move was necessary for a change in scenery and a mental switch. The 6-3, 200-pound defenseman said every day [with the Flyers] it was the rink, Jersey Mike’s, the same spots, “so I need to change something.”

“I say it every time, I’m never mad at the Flyers,” he added, noting he’ll forever cherish the time with his teammates on and off the ice. “I think I will remember this time in Philly for my life, and I respect people who trust me from Day 1 in Lehigh, and Danny and Jonesy gave me a chance to play in the NHL. So I can’t be mad at them.

“I feel like last year, I started playing worse and worse, and you didn’t see my progress. Sometimes I start to play 10 minutes, 12 minutes, sit on the bench waiting for your time on the ice, and don’t play, PK, power play. It always [stinks], but it is what it is. But, at the same time, I love the people who work here, and I’ll always respect [them].”

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Zamula wrapped up his Flyers career with eight goals and 41 points in 168 NHL games across six seasons, which included another 130 games for Lehigh Valley. This season, he had one assist in 13 games for the Flyers and has two assists in 14 games for Columbus.

He has been a healthy scratch the past three games, but was inserted into the lineup on Saturday.

Christian Dvorak rotated in with Sean Couturier on the top line and is a game-time decision. He took a shot from Owen Tippett off the hands or ribs early in the third period on Thursday in Minnesota. ... The same defense will play on Saturday, which means Emil Andrae stays in. ... Dan Vladař (21-11-6, .904 save percentage) will start in goal. It is his eighth start in the 10 games since the Olympic break.