When the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 2024-25 campaign ended without a postseason appearance, stretching their playoff drought to three years, Kyle Dubas was blunt in discussing one shortcoming of the club\u2019s overall game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the left side of our defense, it\u2019s been a problem,\u201d the Penguins\u2019 president of hockey operations\/general manager said April 21. \u201cThere\u2019s just no other way (to put it). \u2026 That\u2019s an area I think, externally, that we have to (improve).\u201d<\/p>\n
Over three months later, the dust has largely settled on Dubas\u2019 external approach at bolstering the Penguins, including the left side of the blue line.<\/p>\n
Left-shooting defenseman Alexander Alexeyev, 25, was brought in one a one-year deal ($775,000 annually), while 28-year-old Caleb Jones joined the Penguins for two at $900,000 average annual value.<\/p>\n
But if salary and term are to be viewed as barometers for a player\u2019s overall importance, than Parker Wotherspoon represents the most significant component of Dubas\u2019 external solution in improving the Penguins\u2019 left-side defensive woes.<\/p>\n
Wotherspoon, 27, signed a two-year, $2 million deal with Pittsburgh on July 1, the opening day of the NHL free agency period.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started talking with Pittsburgh, right from the get-go, it seemed like there was a good connection there,\u201d Wotherspoon said by video chat Monday. \u201cThey seemed interested, we seemed interested and we thought it\u2019d be a good fit with some opportunity to play. \u2026 An opportunity to get back in the playoffs is all I wanted to do. Everything just kind of lined up really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 6-foot-1, 192-pound blue-liner originally selected in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) by the New York Islanders in 2015, Wotherspoon played the last two seasons with the Boston Bruins, appearing in 96 combined games with a goal and 14 assists.<\/p>\n
Last season, he set numerous career-highs, including games (55) and minutes (18:02), while netting his first NHL goal Jan. 14 and adding six assists.<\/p>\n
Wotherspoon was also active on the penalty kill, averaging 1:20 of short-handed ice time per contest, and can play both sides of a defensive pairing.<\/p>\n
\nGreat, deceptive pass from Pastrnak, to set-up Parker Wotherspoon\u2019s first NHL goal. 2-0 BOS. #NHLBruins<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CV9Re5ckVa<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Brian DeFelice (@briandefelice_) January 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In total, he\u2019s appeared in 108 NHL games.<\/p>\n
With the Bruins finishing last in the Atlantic Division, Wotherspoon could relate to the Penguins\u2019 disappointment of missing the playoffs.<\/p>\n
That said, he reflected on his time in Boston as beneficial to his development as an NHLer.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough season \u2013 we didn\u2019t make the playoffs or were where we wanted to be,\u201d he said. \u201cBut with the extra playing time, I felt like I was growing every game, playing more and more, especially when I got the bigger role with the (penalty kill). \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cTakes 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. You can only get that way when you\u2019re playing more.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Wotherspoon, Alexeyev and Jones constitute the external improvements to the Penguins\u2019 contingent of left-shooting defensemen, Ryan Shea and Graves represent parts of the in-house solution, as both are back in 2025-26.<\/p>\n
Former first-round pick Owen Pickering, 21, is also expected to compete for an NHL roster spot opening night at the conclusion of preseason camp, while Sebastian Aho is signed for one more season.<\/p>\n
While he hasn\u2019t delved too deeply into the Penguins\u2019 full personnel situation at his position, as well as the club\u2019s system under first-year coach Dan Muse, initial impressions have been positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a few conversations with Dan,\u201d Wotherspoon said. \u201cHe seems like a really good guy. I\u2019ve heard good things. I\u2019ve had a few players that I\u2019ve talked to say he\u2019s going to be straightforward and that he\u2019s hardworking. So, right up my alley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Notable in Wotherspoon\u2019s performance last season was that he took only five minor penalties \u2013 10 minutes in all \u2013 over 55 games.<\/p>\n
For Wotherspoon, that wasn\u2019t suggestive of him playing a relaxed, nonphysical kind of game.<\/p>\n
Quite the opposite.<\/p>\n
Wotherspoon doesn\u2019t shy away from using his body on the ice, and doing so in a way that doesn\u2019t result in unnecessary trips to the penalty box.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the style I play, I play aggressive and hard and try to be as physical as possible,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I just kind of learned growing up and going through those years of being in the minors and a couple years in the NHL \u2013 just stay off the refs, keep it between the whistles and you\u2019re not going to have many minors.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially in my situation, if you\u2019re taking minors and hurting the team, you\u2019re helping no one. I do my best to stay out of (the penalty box).\u201d<\/p>\n
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n