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.
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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.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Healthy scratch once again
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was a healthy scratch for the eighth straight game Saturday versus the Canadiens.
This scratch was also the 10th time in 11 games that Wotherspoon has been relegated to the bench. One could argue that it might be much more beneficial for the young defender to play every day in the AHL rather than once in a blue moon in the NHL. On the season, Wotherspoon has one point, an assist, with a rating of plus-5 in 12 games for the Islanders.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Healthy scratch once again
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game Saturday versus the Golden Knights, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
The Islanders' sixth spot on the blue line has been a revolving door. The season started with Robin Salo in the role; then it went to Sebastian Aho, Wotherspoon, and now Samuel Bolduc. Aho has solidified himself as that sixth defender when the defensive corps is healthy, something that is expected to be the case when the Islanders return to action Feb. 6. As a result, Wotherspoon could find himself remaining a healthy scratch as the seventh defender or back in the AHL, barring additional injuries on the back end.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Still searching for first goal
Rotowire
Wotherspoon has only one point, an assist, in his first 10 NHL games.
Wotherspoon has been a surprise everyday player for the team since late December. Adam Pelech (head) is still out of the lineup, and coach Lane Lambert seems to have lost faith in Robin Salo due to several defensive miscues. Wotherspoon will see himself back in the AHL or on the bench once Pelech, who has begun skating with the team, returns to action.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Earns first NHL point
Rotowire
Wotherspoon provided an assist and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Canucks.
Wotherspoon was in the lineup in his native British Columbia. The defenseman then earned his first NHL point with a secondary helper on a Casey Cizikas goal at 9:44 of the third period. This was Wotherspoon's fifth outing of the season, and he's managed six shots on goal, four hits, two blocked shots and a plus-4 rating in limited action on the third pairing. As long as Adam Pelech (head) is out, Wotherspoon and Robin Salo will be competing for one spot in the lineup.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Summoned by big club
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was recalled by the Islanders on Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Wotherspoon is expected to skate on the second pairing Tuesday after briefly heading to AHL Bridgeport for the NHL's holiday break. He made his NHL debut Friday versus Florida, collecting two shots, a hit and one block in 14:47 of ice time.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was reassigned to AHL Bridgeport on Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Wotherspoon played Friday versus the Panthers, logging two shots on goal and 14:47 of ice time. It's possible he's recalled again to compete with Robin Salo for a depth role following the holiday break.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Recalled from AHL Bridgeport
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was recalled from AHL Bridgeport on Friday.
Wotherspoon was waived before the start of the season and sent to the minors, where he had a goal and 12 points in 27 AHL games. He will likely be a depth defenseman at this time.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Cut by Islanders
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was waived by the Islanders on Wednesday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Wotherspoon hasn't appeared in an NHL contest since being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 Entry Draft. He'll likely spend the entirety of the 2022-23 season in the minors.
Wotherspoon signed a one-year contract with the Islanders on Wednesday.
Wotherspoon spent the entirety of the 2021-22 season with AHL Bridgeport, picking up 24 points through 57 contests. The 25-year-old defender has yet to make his NHL debut and shouldn't be expected to do so in 2022-23.
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Islanders' Parker Wotherspoon: Waived by New York
Rotowire
Wotherspoon was waived by the Islanders on Wednesday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
Wotherspoon has yet to make his NHL debut since being selected by the Isles in the fourth round of the 2015 Entry Draft. He'll likely once again spend the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign in the minors.
Wotherspoon penned a two-year, two-way contract with the Islanders on Tuesday.
Wotherspoon has spent the past three seasons playing for AHL Bridgeport, in which he registered 17 goals and 50 assists in 176 contests, but has yet to break into the 23-man roster for New York. Heading into the upcoming 2020-21 campaign, the 23-year-old blueliner should continue to play primarily in the minors though he could make his NHL debut.
