Just In: Red Wings Sign 6-foot-4 and 205-pound Veteran To Training Camp PTO

The Detroit Red Wings have signed veteran forward Austin Watson to a player tryout (PTO) as they prepare for training camp. Watson boasts 10 seasons in the NHL, having played for the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Drafted 18th overall by the Predators in the 2010 NHL Draft, Watson stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds, playing as a left-winger on his off side. Last season with the Lightning, he recorded two goals, two assists, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games.

Over his career, he’s accumulated 60 goals and 58 assists for a total of 118 points, along with 705 penalty minutes. In playoff action, he has tallied 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points over 45 games, adding 48 penalty minutes.

Some may question the value of this signing, but at 32, Watson brings several attributes that the Red Wings need: his size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), toughness (93 penalty minutes last season), effective fourth-line productivity, and skills as a penalty killer, along with his Michigan roots from Ann Arbor.

While the Red Wings have yet to finalize their 2024 training camp roster, they may sign additional players to PTOs. This offers unsigned players a chance to compete for a roster spot and showcase their abilities. Detroit may have a few forward positions open, and Watson’s physical play could fill a gap that was evident last season.

He will need to outperform hungry young talents in order to secure a spot, but he brings exactly what Detroit needs and could bolster their struggling penalty kill. Watson typically plays in the bottom six and is known for defending his teammates while maintaining a physical style, though he can also contribute offensively. His penalty-killing experience has helped sharpen his defensive skills.

With the need for protection for their roster come Opening Night, the Red Wings lack players who can consistently deliver physical play. Watson thrives in this role not only through fighting but also in board battles and front-of-the-net presence, both essential for playoff success.