Red Wings sign Austin Watson to one-year, two-way contract

On Monday, the Detroit Red Wings announced they have signed forward Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2024-25 season.

The final terms, including the cap hit, have yet to be disclosed. Watson was later placed on waivers by the Red Wings for the purpose of joining their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Watson came to Hockeytown prior to training camp on a professional tryout. It was a homecoming of sorts for the 32-year-old, as he grew up right down the road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He impressed the Red Wings’ brass during the preseason by showing that his toughness can still be a useful asset for the up-and-coming team with loads of young talent on its roster.

It is the second year in a row that Watson earned his spot on an NHL roster through his work during the preseason. He signed a PTO with the Tampa Bay Lightning in August 2023, earning a one-year contract prior to the beginning of the regular season. However, it didn’t lead to a lot of playing time, as the former London Knight appeared in just 33 games, scoring two goals and two assists. He didn’t appear in the lineup for any of Tampa’s five games in the opening round of last year’s playoff series against the Florida Panthers, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Watson was originally taken in the first round, 18th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2010 NHL Draft. He debuted with the Predators during the 2012-13 season but didn’t become a mainstay in the lineup until the 2015-16 season. His efforts in 2016-17 were key in Nashville’s run to the Stanley Cup Final that spring.

Watson stayed in Smashville until Oct. 2020, when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He would play three seasons with the Sens, scoring 37 points in 176 games with the club.

Watson has played in 515 NHL games, scoring 60 goals and 58 assists for 118 points, amassing 705 penalty minutes. He has also registered 19 points in 45 playoff appearances.