Bruins sign defenseman to extension

The Bruins have signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a one-year, $800K extension, per Darren Dreger of TSN.

Wotherspoon, 26, has played in a career-high 32 games this season, recording six assists and a +5 rating while averaging 17:58 per outing. 

He’s been a frugal free-agent pickup for GM Don Sweeney, who signed Wotherspoon to a one-year, two-way deal ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) when he reached Group VI status last summer.

His ice time has steadily increased as the season progresses, logging some significant penalty-kill time with veteran Derek Forbort battling injuries and inconsistent play. 

He’s been passable on special teams and at even strength, where he’s recorded a solid 46.7 CF percentage and 51.3 xGF percentage in extreme defensive-zone usage.

A fourth-round pick of the Islanders in 2015, Wotherspoon spent parts of eight seasons with their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport before making his NHL debut last season. 

He was solid in a 12-game stint, recording an assist and a +5 rating, but the Islanders opted not to re-sign him and let him reach free agency.

Wotherspoon was set to be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. This will be the first one-way contract of his career.