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Austin Watson News

Watson has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) on emergency conditions.

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but he has yet to play a game this season. The 34-year-old forward has 20 points (11G / 9A) and 137 penalty minutes in 48 games this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Austin Watson
Watson has been reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but his physical presence has primarily been felt in the AHL the past two seasons. The 33-year-old Watson scored 42 points (19G / 23A) and recorded 112 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season.

Austin Watson
Watson has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL).

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but his physical presence has primarily been felt in the AHL the past two seasons. The 33-year-old Watson scored 42 points (19G / 23A) and recorded 112 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season.

Austin Watson
Watson has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) under emergency conditions.

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 118 points (60G / 58A) and 707 penalty minutes in 517 career games, but he has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 33-year-old forward has 37 points (16G / 21A) in 56 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Austin Watson
The Red Wings have signed Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract.

Watson has spent the majority of 2024-25 in the AHL, where he has 12 goals and 19 assists (31 points) in 51 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He's appeared in just two NHL games with the Red Wings, but gets another two-way deal for the 2025-26 season.

Austin Watson
Watson has been reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Watson played his second game of the season on Wednesday, filling in for Vladimir Tarasenko (illness), playing 9:06 time-on-ice, recording four hits and a -1 plus/minus. Watson had a one-game stint with the Red Wings earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring six points (0G / 6A) in seven games with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Austin Watson
Watson will draw into the Red Wings lineup on Wednesday.

Watson will enter the lineup in place of Vladimir Tarasenko, who is out with an illness. Watson has appeared in just one game this season, registering a -1 rating and two penalty minutes in under five minutes of ice time.

Austin Watson
Watson has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) under emergency conditions.

Watson had a one-game stint with the Red Wings earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring six points (0G / 6A) in seven games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 32-year-old Watson had 118 points (60G / 58A) in 516 career NHL games and could draw into the Red Wings lineup on Wednesday if Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) is not able to play.

Austin Watson
Watson has been assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Watson only saw 4:54 TOI in his only appearance for the Red Wings and has been reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) on Tuesday. The 32-year-old signed a one-year contract with Detroit after a successful PTO during training camp. He'll return to Grand Rapids, where he had three assists and seven PIMs in two games prior to his call-up.

Austin Watson
Watson will make his Red Wings' debut on Monday in New York.

Watson signed a two-way, one-year contract with the Red Wings last week but will started the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), recording three points (0G / 3A) in two games. Since his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as a member of the Nashville Predators, Watson has established himself as one of the premier enforcers in the league and will add some grit and toughness to an up-and-coming Red Wings squad. The 6'4 Watson spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2G / 2A), 85 hits, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games.

Austin Watson
Watson cleared waivers and has been reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Watson signed a two-way, one-year contract with the Red Wings earlier this week but will likely start the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Since his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as a member of the Nashville Predators, Watson has established himself as one of the premier enforcers in the league and will add some grit and toughness to an up-and-coming Red Wings squad whenever he is called up. The 6'4 Watson spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2G / 2A), 85 hits, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games.

Austin Watson
The Red Wings have signed Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract.

Since his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as a member of the Nashville Predators, Watson has established himself as one of the premier enforcers in the league and will add some grit and toughness to an up-and-coming Red Wings squad. The 6'4 Watson spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2G / 2A), 85 hits, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games.

Austin Watson
Watson is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday vs. Ottawa.

Watson returned from a three-game absence on Saturday, registering 17 penalty minutes and two hits in 9:11 time-on-ice, but will return to the pressbox on Monday as a healthy scratch. The bruising forward has played only twice in the last 10 games.

Austin Watson