By: Andrew Bluestein | Follow Me On Twitter / X @adbblue
Parker Wotherspoon emerged as a pleasant surprise for the Boston Bruins during the 2023-24 season. The former fourth-round pick had only played 12 games in his NHL career prior to joining the Bruins. He suited up for 41 games last year and played his role very well as a stay-at-home third-pair defenseman.
His solid play earned him a one year $800,000 contract extension, and is a key part of the trans defensive depth. With the signing of Nikita Zadorov and acquisition of Andrew Peeke at last seasons trade deadline, what role will Wotherspoon play this year?
Unless he has an outstanding training camp and preseason, he will likely slot in as the seventh defenseman on the roster. If that’s the case, the left-shot defenseman won’t be in the lineup every game. However, injuries are bound to happen, and his services will undoubtedly be needed. Having Wotherspoon as your reserve defenseman speaks volumes of how good the Bruins’ situation is on the back end.
He provides the ability to block shots, and play soundly with solid positioning in the defensive zone. Killing penalties is another element of Wotherspoon’s game that makes him valuable. He’s also not afraid to throw his body around and be physical, especially in the dirty areas of the ice.
His role with the team is very important, as it’s important to have depth on the blue line. Wotherspoon gives head coach Jim Montgomery a reliable option on any given game day and is the perfect example of a plug-and-play guy. Without a doubt, he’ll be an important part of the 2024-25 Roster.
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