Red Wings sign Austin Watson for one year

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed forward Austin Watson to a one-year, two-year contract.

Watson, 32, spent training camp with the Red Wings on a professional tryout and recorded one assist, a plus-one rating and 27 penalty minutes in four preseason games. The 1.80 meter tall, 110 kilogram forward played the entire 2023/24 season for the Tampa Bay Lightning and recorded four points (2-2-4), a plus-two rating and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games. Watson spent the 2022-23 season with the Ottawa Senators, recording 11 points (9-2-11) and 123 penalty minutes in 75 games. Watson was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the first round (18th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and has accumulated 118 points (60-58-118) and 705 penalty minutes in 515 games with the Predators, Senators and Lightning since 2012. 13. He also recorded 19 points (10-9-19) and 48 penalty minutes in 45 postseason contests, helping the Predators reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Additionally, Watson played in parts of six seasons for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, recording 132 points (73-59-132), a plus-10 rating and 89 penalty minutes in 234 games.

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Watson played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Windsor Spitfires, Peterborough Petes and London Knights from 2008 to 2012 before turning professional, winning OHL championships with Windsor in 2009 and with London in 2012. In his biggest During his junior career, Watson recorded 219 points (89-130-219) and 164 penalty minutes in 244 games, in addition to 22 points (12-10-22) and 27 penalty minutes in 43 postseason games. Watson won a Memorial Cup title with Windsor in 2009 under Red Wings Associate Coach Bob Boughner and received the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP in 2012 with London. Watson also ran in the US National Team Development Program in 2009-10. In nine appearances he collected six points (4-2-6) and 33 penalty minutes. On the international stage, Watson served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, collecting one assist and 27 penalty minutes in 10 games. He also competed in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording nine points (3-6-9) and a plus-six rating in six games. Watson won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 IIHF U18 World Championship, recording three points (2-1-3), a plus-two rating and 33 penalty minutes in seven contests.

Austin Watson, striker

Born January 13, 1992 – Ann Arbor, MI

Size 6.04 – Weight 210 – Shot R

Selected by the Nashville Predators in Round 1, 18th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft