Maple Leafs sign former Penguins forward.

The Maple Leafs have quietly made another depth signing.

According to a report from Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports the Leafs have signed unrestricted free agent forward Garrett Wilson to a new deal, although the terms of that contract remain unknown at this time. Wilson, a former Florida Panthers 4th round draft pick (107th overall) at the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, was most recently a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization where he played in a depth role at the NHL level, and served as the organizations captain in the American Hockey League for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In the 2018 - 2019 campaign Wilson appeared in 50 games for the Penguins, recording 2 goals and 6 assists for a total of 8 points over that stretch. Wilson obviously saw limited time as a 4th liner but he was a positive player in spite of that finishing with a plus minus rating of +2 on the season. At the AHL level he excelled for the Penguins recording 8 goals and 10 assists for a total of 18 points in the 18 AHL games he appeared in.

It seems fair to suggest that Wilson's contract will likely be a two way deal that will pay him the league minimum salary at the NHL level, a contract that would be similar to the contracts that he has signed throughout his career as a journeyman type player. At 28 years of age Wilson is in the prime years of his career and it will be interesting to see how much NHL time he can earn himself this upcoming season, and how much of his time will be spent with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies. 

This deal no doubt will fly under the radar as the Leafs are loathe to announce a signing of this nature when their entire fan base is awaiting news regarding a signing involving Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner. 

As for the Penguins they had just two players hit the open market as unrestricted free agents this summer and they now will lose both of them. Wilson of course has signed as a Maple Leaf and NHL veteran Matt Cullen was the other and he announced his retirement this summer.