PuckSleuth
29Vegas Golden Knights · Defense · Shoots L
Parker Wotherspoon
Age 29 · 6'1" · 195 lb · Born in Surrey, CAN
Cap hit
$500K
50% retained by previous team
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$4.125M
vs. $5.125M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
17:54
PP 0:14 · PK 0:27
xGF%
48.4
5v5, -2.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.36
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-4
Blocks 1 · Hits 1
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 vs ANA · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15:39 | 0:24 | 0:00 | — | 67 | 1 | 0 | -3 | -0.46 |
| Sep 29 vs CHI · W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20:08 | 0:04 | 0:54 | — | 20 | 5 | 1 | -1 | -0.26 |
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 29:54 | 0:03 | 2:34 | — | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.36 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 21:03 | 0:00 | 2:03 | — | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +0.90 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 23:49 | 0:00 | 3:00 | — | 80 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -0.06 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,373 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
63rd percentile
46th percentile
52nd percentile
77th percentile
81st percentile
72nd percentile
75th percentile
71st percentile
75th percentile
8th percentile
58th percentile
58th percentile
62nd percentile
43rd percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleAggressive two-way defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Wotherspoon thrives in transition and on the forecheck, winning pucks and pushing tempo with physical presence and excellent rush instincts. He limits shot attempts against but struggles to generate offense through shooting or puck control in structured play.
- Shooting volume
- 7
- Playmaking
- 70
- Zone entries(est.)
- 84
- Forechecking
- 87
- Physicality
- 84
- Defensive impact
- 53
- Puck management
- 8
- Speed
- 38
Where he shoots from
Slot 1% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 70%(99 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 99th percentile in unblocked shots generated, showing exceptional involvement in play
- Forecheck intensity at 87th percentile keeps opponents on their heels
- Zone entry ability at 84th percentile and physicality at 84th percentile fuel transition offense
Watch-outs
- Shooting volume at just 7th percentile means he rarely puts pucks on net himself
- Puck management at 8th percentile indicates struggles maintaining possession in setup play
- Speed at 38th percentile may limit his transition ceiling against faster teams
Similar style: Emil Andrae (CBJ), Ian Cole (CHI)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 80 GP
Season total +29.7, or +0.37 per game.
- Scoring
- +18.9
- Shooting
- +5.3
- 5-on-5 goals
- +1.8
- Defense
- -0.3
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Physical play
- +8.8
- Puck battles
- -4.6
- Penalties
- -0.6
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Minor-BC | Cloverdale | 45 | 15 | 34 | 49 | — | — |
| 2011-12 (playoffs) | Minor-BC | Cloverdale | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | — | — |
| 2012-13 | BCMML | Valley West | 37 | 7 | 19 | 22 | — | 118 |
| 2012-13 | WHL | Tri-City | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 4 |
| 2012-13 (playoffs) | WHL | Tri-City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | WHL | Tri-City | 62 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 0 | 74 |
| 2013-14 (playoffs) | WHL | Tri-City | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| 2014-15 | WHL | Tri-City | 72 | 9 | 33 | 42 | -13 | 93 |
| 2014-15 (playoffs) | WHL | Tri-City | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -6 | 4 |
| 2015-16 | WHL | Tri-City | 71 | 11 | 45 | 56 | -16 | 78 |
| 2015-16 | AHL | Bridgeport | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 15 |
| 2015-16 (playoffs) | AHL | Bridgeport | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | WHL | Tri-City Americans | 69 | 10 | 56 | 66 | +15 | 99 |
| 2016-17 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| 2016-17 (playoffs) | WHL | Tri-City Americans | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 8 |
| 2017-18 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 50 | 7 | 10 | 17 | +3 | 24 |
| 2018-19 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 64 | 6 | 17 | 23 | +7 | 51 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 62 | 4 | 23 | 27 | -13 | 82 |
| 2020-21 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -6 | 35 |
| 2021-22 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 57 | 3 | 21 | 24 | +7 | 127 |
| 2021-22 (playoffs) | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | New York Islanders | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 27 | 1 | 11 | 12 | +12 | 27 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Boston Bruins | 41 | 0 | 8 | 8 | +6 | 31 |
| 2023-24 | AHL | Providence Bruins | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 2023-24 (playoffs) | NHL | Boston Bruins | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Boston Bruins | 55 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -10 | 10 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 3 | 27 | 30 | +17 | 55 |
| 2025-26 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 12 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Vegas Golden Knights | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Usage
Last game: vs ANA, Oct 2
Pair 3 with Rasmus Andersson (14:13 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
No news about him in the last 30 days.
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.13 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 18.9 mph
- 20th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 84.3 mph
- 77th pct
- Distance
- 2.7 mi
- OZ time
- 40.9%
- 41st pct
- DZ time
- 42.7%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 29, defensemen typically produce 93% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | VGK | $500K | 0.5% |
UFA after 2026-27. $1M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).