Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Bruins have signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension.
Wotherspoon, 26, has appeared in a career-high 32 games this season, recording six assists and a +5 rating while averaging 17:58 minutes per game.
He’s been a low-cost free agent acquisition for GM Don Sweeney, who signed Wotherspoon to a one-year, two-way contract ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) after he earned Group VI status last summer.
With veteran Derek Forbort dealing with injuries and uneven play, his ice time has slowly climbed throughout the season, including some major penalty-kill minutes.
On special teams and at even strength, he has a respectable 46.7 CF % and 51.3 xGF percentage in severe defensive-zone use.
The Islanders selected Wotherspoon in the fourth round in 2015, and he spent parts of eight seasons with their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport before making his NHL debut last season.
He performed admirably in a 12-game tenure, recording an assist and a +5 rating, but the Islanders chose not to re-sign him and allowed him to enter free agency.
Wotherspoon was expected to become an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. This will be his first one-way contract.
