Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Playing time slipping again
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was scratched for the third straight game to begin December when he sat out Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Wotherspoon sat just once in November after playing only two games in October. He appears to have fallen out of favor again, with Jordan Oesterle picking up playing time to begin this month. Wotherspoon didn't do anything to help his cause -- he's stuck on zero points while adding eight shots on net, 19 hits, 17 blocked shots and four PIM across 15 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Stuck in reserve role
Rotowire
Wotherspoon has been scratched for nine of the Bruins' first 11 games after sitting out Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
Given the Bruins' recent defensive struggles (13 goals allowed over three games), Wotherspoon may soon get a look in the lineup again. The 27-year-old hasn't done much when he plays, earning two hits, one shot on goal, two PIM and a minus-1 rating over two appearances. Wotherspoon could push Andrew Peeke, Mason Lohrei or Brandon Carlo for a spot in the lineup if the Bruins continue to take up residence in the Atlantic Division basement.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Pockets helper in Game 1 win
Rotowire
Wotherspoon logged an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in a 5-1 win over the Panthers on Monday in Game 1 of the second round.
Wotherspoon has played in six straight games since entering the lineup for Game 3 of the first round. The helper was his first point since March 26. The 26-year-old defenseman will continue to work in a bottom-pairing role, so there's not much fantasy appeal in his game. He's earned 11 hits, 11 blocked shots, six shots on net and a plus-1 rating in the postseason after recording eight helpers, 84 hits and 67 blocks over 41 regular-season appearances.
Wotherspoon inked a one-year, $800,000 contract extension with Boston on Friday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Wotherspoon had been splitting the sixth-defenseman role with Kevin Shattenkirk for much of the season but injuries to Hampus Lindholm (lower body) and Derek Forbort (undisclosed) have seen Wotherspoon pressed into service more frequently of late. He's collected six helpers and 67 hits through 32 games with the Bruins this year.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Grabs rare point
Rotowire
Wotherspoon logged an assist, two hits, two blocked shots and five PIM in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.
Wotherspoon had an eventful second period, fighting Corey Perry and then helping out on a Jake DeBrusk tally after the penalty expired. The 26-year-old Wotherspoon could be in the lineup for the rest of the Bruins' road trip, as Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) is not traveling with the team and Matt Grzelcyk (lower body) was injured Wednesday. Wotherspoon has four helpers, 17 shots on net, 18 PIM, 52 hits and 45 blocked shots through 24 outings, so he's unlikely to be very useful in fantasy.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Back with big club
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was recalled from AHL Providence on Saturday, per the NHL media site.
According to Eric Russo of the Bruins' official site, Wotherspoon was paired with Kevin Shattenkirk during Saturday's morning skate. If Wotherspoon doesn't play Saturday versus Tampa Bay, Mason Lohrei will be in the lineup after undergoing some dental work. Wotherspoon has two assists, nine shots on goal, 15 blocked shots and 16 hits in 10 NHL outings this season.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Dropped to minors
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was sent down to AHL Providence on Friday, per CapFriendly.
Wotherspoon has served as a healthy scratch for the last two games with Boston. He could be recalled again as an insurance body for Saturday's matchup with Tampa Bay.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Back at practice
Rotowire
Wotherspoon is practicing with the Bruins on Wednesday, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports, indicating he's been recalled from the minors.
It appears Wotherspoon's demotion was nothing more than a paper transaction that likely saved the Bruins a bit of long-term cap space or kept him waiver exempt after he previously passed through waivers back in October. Either way, the blueliner was on the ice for practice Wednesday and might be an option to play versus Pittsburgh on Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was reassigned to AHL Providence on Wednesday, according to Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal.
Wotherspoon has a goal and five points in 19 contests with Providence this season. He's also registered two assists in 10 games with Boston. The 26-year-old was a healthy scratch for Tuesday's 4-1 win over Columbus.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Back with big club
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was recalled by the Bruins on Wednesday.
Wotherspoon is expected to skate on the third pairing during Wednesday's matchup with the Sabres. The 26-year-old defender has picked up one assist through eight top-level appearances this year.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Reassigned to minors
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was dropped to AHL Providence on Sunday, per CapFriendly.
Wotherspoon has one point in eight NHL games and has been held scoreless in six straight appearances. He'll likely be back with the big club before Wednesday's tilt in Buffalo.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Recalled Thursday
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was recalled from AHL Providence on Thursday.
Wotherspoon has a goal and five points in 19 contests with Providence this season. He also has an assist, four hits and six blocks in three games with Boston. The Bruins put Charlie McAvoy (upper body) on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Back in minors
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was reassigned to AHL Providence on Friday.
Wotherspoon was recalled Wednesday only to be a healthy scratch Thursday against the Islanders. The defenseman had an assist in three games with the Bruins before his demotion.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Called up again
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was called up from AHL Providence on Wednesday, per CapFriendly.
Wotherspoon was sent down Tuesday in a paper move. He'll likely be on the third pairing Thursday versus the Islanders unless Derek Forbort (lower body) returns to action.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Sent down Tuesday
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was reassigned to AHL Providence on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Wotherspoon has an assist in three NHL games this season, and he's added six blocked shots and four hits. It's possible Derek Forbort (lower body) could be ready for Thursday's game versus the Islanders, but the Bruins will still need to call up at least one defenseman for that contest.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Brought up from AHL Providence
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was promoted from the minors Wednesday.
Wotherspoon saw action in 12 games with the Islanders last season in which he recorded one assist, 10 shots and eight hits while averaging 13:20 of ice time. Due to various blue-line absences, it will likely come down to Wotherspoon, Mason Lohrei and Ian Mitchell for two spots in the lineup against Toronto on Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Waived Tuesday
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was placed on waivers Tuesday, Chris Johnston of TSN reports.
Wotherspoon contributed one assist, seven blocked shots and eight hits in 12 games with the Islanders last season. He also recorded one goal and 12 points in 27 AHL contests with Bridgeport during the 2022-23 campaign. If he clears, the 26-year-old defender will report to AHL Providence.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon: Heading to Boston
Rotowire
Wotherspoon signed a one-year, two-way contract with Boston on Saturday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Wotherspoon had one assist, seven blocked shots and eight hits in 12 games with the Islanders last season. He also collected 12 points in 27 AHL contests with Bridgeport during the 2022-23 campaign. Wotherspoon will probably report to the minors for the start of next season.
... See More... See Less
Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Stapled to the bench
Rotowire
Wotherspoon has been a healthy scratch for 17 straight games.
The Islanders are in a battle for one of the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, which hasn't allowed any room for a rookie defenseman to have any on-the-job training. The fact that the team doesn't seem to mind keeping Wotherspoon wasting away in the press box rather than playing in the AHL might tell you all you need to know about how they feel about his future. He would be playing somewhere if he were a top prospect for the organization.
... See More... See Less
Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Healthy scratch for 13 straight
Rotowire
Wotherspoon has been a healthy scratch for 13 straight and 15 of the last 16 games.
The Islanders have been crushed by injuries, but it's to their forward corps, not the defense. Wotherspoon has appeared in 12 games this season, and although he's only registered one point, an assist, he has logged a rating of plus-5. He is currently the seventh defenseman for the Islanders and will likely continue to be a healthy scratch until one of the team's top-six defenders either suffers an injury or needs a night off to rest.
