Austin Watson Lands PTO With Another Atlantic Division Team

He's a 10-year veteran of the National Hockey League wars, and a former first-round pick. Now 32 years old, enforcer Austin Watson had to make his way back onto a roster via a PTO last year with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This summer, he's landed himself another professional tryout as a means to show he's still got the chops to fill an NHL role, this time with the Detroit Red Wings.

🖊: Austin Watson has accepted a Professional Tryout Offer with the @DetroitRedWings for training camp ahead of the 2024-2025 @NHL season.#WDSE #NHL #RedWings #AustinWatson pic.twitter.com/rARB6w3FnH
— WD Sports & Entertainment (@WD_sportsagency) August 28, 2024

The 6'4", hard-nosed fourth-liner has earned his stay over the last decade in the NHL by being a locker room leader off the ice, and a protector of teammates on it, as well as being relied upon on the penalty kill.

After five seasons as a regular in the Nashville Predators' bottom six, he performed the same role for the Ottawa Senators for three seasons, before carving out 33 appearances for the Bolts in 2023-24. He'll try to return to the Atlantic Division this season, as the Ann Arbor, Michigan native gets a tryout for his hometown team.

Detroit has plenty of promising young players, and if Watson can earn a contract, he'll ensure opponents don't get too reckless with the Wings' kids.

In 515 career NHL games, Watson has handed out 1,209 hits, while taking 705 minutes in penalties and recording 60 goals and 118 points. He's averaged 12 minutes of ice time per night.