Red Wings sign first round pick to PTO ahead of training camp

First round pick Austin Watson signed a professional tryout late on Wednesday with the Detroit Red Wings. The veteran forward was hoping to get picked up by an NHL team to pursue his career and he gets a shot in Hockey Town, close to home as he is native of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Watson’s camp made the announcement for the Wings’ training camp ahead of the 2024-2025.

Watson, who is coming off a one-year, $776,665 contract, is a former first round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2010, and was in and out of Tampa Bay last season as part of the Lightning’s bottom six. He put up two goals and two assists over 33 games.

Often used for his toughness, Watson has never disappointed in that part of the game, amassing 705 penalty minutes in 515 career games. He also scored a career-high 14 goals and 19 points with the Predators in 2017-18.
Looking to crack the roster in Detroit, Auston could definitely help the team wear down opponents. He could also bring an element of leadership and experience to the Wings’ dressing room.

This is a homecoming for Watson, who grew up in the area and played AAA with Compuware and started his major junior career with the Windsor Spitfires. In Windsor, he won a Memorial Cup in 2009.

Watson had a shot at the Stanley Cup with Nashville, where he played for six seasons, tallying nine points across 22 games before losing the championship to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Watson now looks to prove he still has gas in the tank and show off his NHL worth in Detroit.

Will he crack the roster?