Trotman only made eight NHL appearances last year and failed to record a point. He did, however, contribute 14 points in 27 outings with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. At 30 years old, it's highly unlikely Trotman takes a big step forward in 2020-21. He has 91 games of NHL experience and could end up on the Penguins' taxi squad as a depth option for the blue line, but Mike Matheson and Cody Ceci will most likely handle the bottom-pairing duties in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins blue line is pretty well set following the summer addition of Jack Johnson, which means Trotman will likely spend the bulk of the season with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Even if an injury opens the door for the Indiana native to get called up, any vacancy in the lineup is likely to go to Chad Ruhwedel. The 27-year-old Trotman saw action in just three games for Pittsburgh last season and there is little indication he will see much more than a few sporadic games this year.
Trotman, the final pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, is coming off a 2014-15 season in which he recorded five points in 27 games with the big club, while also notching 13 points in 40 contests for AHL Providence. The 6-foot-3, 219–pounder, who turns 25 on Aug. 26, will be operating on a one-way contract with the B’s, and he’s now set to compete with the likes of Joe Morrow, Colin Miller and Matt Irwin for a spot on the big club's third pairing. While not really a candidate to make a fantasy splash this season, Trotman combines size and physicality with respectable prowess in the transition game. He thus has a good chance to start the coming season with the Bruins out of the gate, but even if that doesn’t happen, Trotman would presumably be destined to see his share of NHL action when injuries hit the team’s back line.
Trotman, who is working on a two-way deal with the B’s this season, played his first two NHL games with the big club last season, but spent the majority of the season with Providence in the AHL, notching eight goals, 16 assists and recording a plus-13 rating in 53 regular season games. The Bruins have a deep blue line as the coming season approaches, so it would take a few breaks for the 6-3, 219–pound Trotman to make the team out of the gate, but he’ll no doubt be on the team’s short-list of call-ups when injures hit.
The 6-foot-3, 219 pound Lake Superior State product is a depth blueliner in the Bruins’ system. Trotman recorded 16 points in his first full season as a pro with AHL Providence and his size gives him a chance to emerge down the road should his overall skills continue to develop.
The 21-year-old Lake Superior State product is one of a slew of young depth blueliners in the Bruins’ pipeline, but is a ways away from knocking at the big club’s door.
