Golden Knights To Activate Parker Wotherspoon

According to The Athletic’s Jesse Granger, defenseman Parker Wotherspoon took line rushes next to Dylan Coghlan at practice this morning. Granger’s update suggests the Golden Knights will activate Wotherspoon from the long-term injured reserve ahead of tonight’s contest against the Utah Mammoth.

Vegas acquired Wotherspoon in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past offseason. The 29-year-old blueliner signed a two-year, $2MM contract with the Penguins a year before. The Golden Knights had to part with Kaedan Korczak, who recently signed a four-year, $13MM ($3.25MM AAV) extension, to acquire Wotherspoon. Still, since Pittsburgh ate 50% of Wotherspoon’s salary ($500K), Vegas eagerly made the swap.

Unfortunately, because of his upper-body ailment, Wotherspoon’s hasn’t been able to build on last year’s success. In 80 games with the Penguins, Wotherspoon scored three goals and 30 points with a +17 rating, while averaging 20:10 of ice time per game. The Surrey, BC, native also blocked 112 shots and delivered 162 hits, making him a high-value two-way defenseman with his relatively low salary.

The multi-week upper-body injury has limited him to six games with his new club. He’s gone scoreless in those six contests, with a -6 rating and a dismal 82.1% on-ice SV%. Still, if he stays healthy, Wotherspoon has 65 more regular-season contests to have a strong year heading into unrestricted free agency.

It’s unknown if the Golden Knights will make a corresponding roster move. Vegas has only $500K in cap space, which equals Wotherspoon’s salary this season.