Kyle Dubas, president of hockey operations and general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins, addressed a key area during free agency by adding defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to the roster. Wotherspoon, 27, agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1 million.
“It was Canada Day here, so I was out just on the beach with some friends. When I started talking to Pittsburgh, right from the get-go, it seemed like there was a good connection there,” Wotherspoon said. “They seemed interested. We seemed interested. We thought it’d be a good fit, with some opportunity to play.
“Looking forward to getting out there. Putting on the skates, just going to work on the ice and having a good first impression… I play aggressive, play hard, try and be as physical as possible.”
Wotherspoon credits his older brother Tyler for inspiring his hockey career. Tyler Wotherspoon played as a defenseman after being selected in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft by Calgary and has appeared in 30 NHL games.
“I saw the success that he had when he was growing up and going to the Prospects game and watching him get drafted and live in the U.S. and all that stuff, and I just wanted to be like him,” Parker said. “So, I started really buckling down because that was the life I knew I wanted. Then he’s always helped me along the way, giving words of encouragement… he’s always someone you can just fall back on. We have a good relationship like that.”
Drafted by New York Islanders in 2015 (fourth round), Parker Wotherspoon spent several years with their organization before joining Boston in 2023 where he increased his NHL presence.
During his time with Boston last season, Wotherspoon played a career-high 55 games after appearing in 41 contests during 2023-24. He averaged more than 18 minutes per game and contributed regularly on penalty kills. He recorded seven points—six assists and one goal—with his first NHL goal scored against goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
“I was building pretty good last year,” Wotherspoon said. “It was kind of a tough season. Obviously, we didn’t make the playoffs or (get) where we were wanting to be. But with the extra playing time, I felt like I was growing every game, playing more and more, especially when I would get the bigger roles with the PK and stuff.
“It takes a little bit to get your feet wet, for the game to slow down. I was finding that a little bit more at the end of the year, just playing more confidently as the game came. You can only get that way when you’re playing more.”
In Pittsburgh Wotherspoon will find some familiar faces; he previously played alongside new Penguins forward Justin Brazeau in Boston and shares roots—and weekly skating sessions—with British Columbia native Danton Heinen.
“I actually grew up working out with Heinen a little bit,” Wotherspoon said. “We skate together every week. We actually live in the same building. I know Danton really well. We’re good buddies. So, that helps a ton obviously knowing him coming into this situation is huge—just being able to talk to him too about places where to go and things like that.”
After an offseason focused on training ahead of camp with Pittsburgh’s blue line group, Wotherspoon says he’s prepared for what comes next.
“It’s been a long offseason so I’m just ready to get back to it now.”
