Detroit Red Wings Sign Austin Watson To Contract Extension

The Detroit Red Wings have made a move, signing forward Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract extension. pic.twitter.com/2582w81ATW
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 6, 2025

Watson, 33, has spent most of this season with the Red Wings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 52 games with the AHL squad, the 6-foot-4 winger has 12 goals, 32 points, and 94 penalty minutes. Overall, he has been an impactful veteran forward in the AHL for the Griffins, so that likely played a role in the Red Wings electing to keep him around in their system.

Watson has played in two games for the Red Wings this season, where he has zero points, two penalty minutes, six hits, and a minus-2 rating. This is after he had two goals, four points, 85 hits, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.

With this extension, he will continue to be a veteran call-up option for the Red Wings to consider for next season.

In 517 career NHL games over 11 seasons split between the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, Lightning, and Red Wings, Watson has 60 goals, 118 points, 707 penalty minutes, and 1,215 hits. His top season was back in 2017-18 with Nashville, when he set career highs with 14 goals and 19 points in 76 games.