New York Islanders
Wotherspoon was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. [1]
On May 2, 2016, the Islanders signed Wotherspoon to a three-year, entry-level contract. [2] On October 27, 2020, he signed a two-year contract extension with the team. [3] Wotherspoon made his NHL debut on December 23, 2022, playing for 14:47 minutes while recording two shots on goal and one hit in the Islanders' 5–1 win against the Florida Panthers. [4] [5]
Boston Bruins
Following six full seasons within the Islanders organization, Wotherspoon left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2023. [6]
Although Wotherspoon initially started the 2023–24 season with the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins, injuries to Boston's defense corps caused him to bounce between Providence and Boston for much of the first half of the season. [7] However, his consistent stability on Boston's blue line earned him a permanent spot on the NHL squad as the team's seventh defenceman, [8] as well as a one-year, $800,000 contract extension on March 8, 2024. [9] In his first full season staying at the NHL level, Wotherspoon scored eight assists in 41 games. Wotherspoon made his NHL playoff debut in Game 3 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Similarly as he had done in the regular season, once Wotherspoon was slotted into the playoff lineup, he found a consistent and stable role in the lineup. Wotherspoon would help the Bruins beat the Leafs in seven games, and would record his first NHL playoff point, an assist, in Game 1 of the second round against the Florida Panthers. However, the Panthers would eliminate the Bruins in six games, ending Wotherspoon's and the Bruins' season.
Wotherspoon entered the 2024–25 season making the NHL opening night roster for the first time in his career, primarily serving as the team's seventh defenseman. [10] However, after injuries to Boston's defense corps, Wotherspoon stepped up to play a larger role. [11] On January 14, 2025, Wotherspoon scored his first career NHL goal against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Wotherspoon ended the season with a goal and seven assists in 55 games, as the Bruins missed the playoffs.
