Austin Watson receives PTO from unexpected NHL team

In an unexpected turn of events, Austin Watson has just received a PTO from the Detroit Red Wings, his hometown team where he grew up.

Austin Watson isn't done with hockey just yet. The 32-year-old forward just signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Detroit Red Wings. Watson, a 2010 first-round pick, spent last season bouncing around in the Tampa Bay Lightning's lineup. Now, he's hoping to make an impact with his hometown team during their upcoming training camp.

Austin Watson is mostly known for his tough, physical play, as we can see with his 705 penalty minutes over 515 career games. While he's never been a big scorer, his best season was back in 2017-18 when he scored 14 goals and picked up 19 points with the Nashville Predators. Last season wasn't his best offensively, scoring just two goals and two assists in 33 games. But at this point in his career, teams value him more for his gritty style of play to wear down opponents.

With plenty of young prospects competing for spots on Detroit's roster this training camp, Austin Watson could bring some muscle to protect those guys from getting pushed around by rivals. The PTO gives the Red Wings a chance to see how he fits in without making any long-term commitments, which is important since signing him could limit opportunities for the younger players.

Watson has deep roots in the Detroit area. He grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and played AAA hockey there. Watson kicked off his junior career with the Windsor Spitfires, winning a Memorial Cup in 2009. Watson returned to the Memorial Cup in 2012 with the London Knights, earning MVP honors in the OHL Playoffs despite his team not winning it that year.

Austin Watson's NHL career started with the Nashville Predators, where he spent six seasons and helped them reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, scoring nine points in 22 playoff games. His physical play stood out, as he led all players in hits during that postseason. After a trade to Ottawa in 2020, Watson spent three seasons with the Senators before joining the Lightning last year.

Now, Austin Watson is looking for another shot in the NHL. Whether he makes the Red Wings' roster or not, this PTO gives him a chance to show he's still got something left in the tank.

Source:
WD Sports & Entertainement on X

Source: HockeyDB
Austin Watson Stats

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