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Press release: Red Wings sign Austin Watson to 1-year, 2-way contract

Per the Detroit Red Wings comes confirmation of their earlier Tweet:

Red Wings sign Austin Watson to one-year contract

Forward has skated in 515 NHL games with Nashville, Ottawa and Tampa Bay since 2012-13

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

Watson, 32, spent training camp with the Red Wings on a professional tryout, recording one assist, a plus-one rating and 27 penalty minutes in four preseason games. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward played the entire 2023-24 season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2-2-4), a plus-two rating and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games. Watson spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Ottawa Senators, logging 11 points (9-2-11) and 123 penalty minutes in 75 games. Originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the first round (18th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Watson has compiled 118 points (60-58-118) and 705 penalty minutes in 515 games with the Predators, Senators and Lightning since 2012-13. He has also tallied 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 with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, racking up 132 points (73-59-132), a plus-10 rating and 89 penalty minutes in 234 games.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings sign Austin Watson to 1-year, 2-way contract

Gustafsson’s the PP QB, right?

DobberHockey’s Brennan Des asks a fantasy hockey question for each NHL team, and his question for the Red Wings is apt:

Detroit Red Wings

Who’s the top power-play quarterback? Offseason acquisition Erik Gustafsson seemed likely to fill this role since his playstyle is similar to Shayne Gostisbehere – who held the top PP QB role last year. While we’ve seen Gustafsson skate with the top group at times during training camp, latest configurations feature Moritz Seider on PP1. That’ll be an interesting battle to monitor as the season progresses.

Continued; at this point, the first power play unit’s defenseman’s job is Gustafsson’s to lose, but Seider will be utilized on the power play to some extent.

Tweets from Monday’s practice: Welcome to regular season preparation

The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center ahead of Thursday’s season-opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins:

Another prediction that coach Lalonde is on borrowed time

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli makes “32 bold predictions” this morning, and this is getting to be a theme:

7. Detroit’s Derek Lalonde will be the first coach fired. Feels like there are already signs of friction between Lalonde and Red Wings management. And the temperature is rising in Detroit to make the playoffs.

Continued; if he’s not coaching for his present contract, he’s coaching for his next one for sure.

Tweet of note: Happy Captain’s Day

He’s not the most popular man in Detroit right now, but it’s a momentous anniversary for Steve Yzerman:

Wings’ ‘Take the Day Off’ campaign continues

The Red Wings continue their Ferris Bueller-themed “Take the Day Off” theme for opening night on Thursday, October 11th vs. Pittsburgh:

More than a pair of fists

The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood notes that Red Wings forward Austin Watson, who signed a 1-year, 2-way contract today, has a multi-faceted game which intrigues the Red Wings:

Watson also made life easier on himself by proving that he isn’t a one-dimensional enforcer. He fights, sure, but he also brings other skills to the table. And when liking Watson’s fight and signing him to a contract are two different things, it takes more than hard fists to get an NHL contract in today’s NHL. Throughout his PTO, Watson proved his ability to impact games in different ways.

If Detroit wanted to see skill, Watson showed it when he made a beautiful backdoor pass to linemate Tyler Motte in the Red Wings’ first preseason game. If Detroit wanted Watson’s physicality to transcend dropped gloves, he finished 12 hits in his preseason game in Pittsburgh, more than double the next nearest teammate. And if Detroit wanted to see that Watson could hold his own in games that didn’t get testy, Saturday’s final preseason tilt in Toronto saw Watson block a couple of shots and kill penalties against an NHL-heavy Toronto lineup. 

Watson showed everything he can do for Detroit in all facets of the game, earning him his big contract. This was the plan all along for Watson, and he used his niche role to turn a low-percentage tryout into an NHL roster spot.

It’s a role Watson carved out just to play in the NHL. He jokes that he got tired of riding in buses, that he likes playing in the NHL, so he figured out a way to stick around. As a former first round pick, Watson came into the league with plenty of skill, but that can only go so far.

“Can you can you get good at the intangible things?” Watson explained of his career decisions. “Can you get good at forechecking? Can you get good at playing in your own end? Can you get good at penalty killing? A lot of things like that. And sometimes guys don’t want to do that.”

Continued; Watson is going to fit in well as a 12th/13th forward.

Allen: Thursday’s home opener will conflict with a Tigers playoff game

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen notes that Red Wings fans should be planning ahead if they’re heading downtown for Thursday’s home opener:

The Red Wings open the 2024-25 season Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m.). Fans attending the game might want to arrive early if the MLB playoff series between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians is still ongoing. Game 4 is scheduled to be played that night at Comerica Park.