Predators Sign Austin Watson

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Austin Watson go a two year contract on Monday.

Since it is a two way deal, Watson will be paid $575,000 for his NHL roster time with the Predators and $100,000 when he is in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Watson is an offensive player. He scored 26 goals with the Admirals this past season, and he was tied for second in the AHL with eight game winning goals.

In just six NHL games with the Predators, Watson scored one goal. All of those games came in the 2012-2013 season.

Watson was a first round pick in 2010 for the Predators, being selected 18th overall.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan native has spent three seasons overall with the Admirals. His best season came in 2013-2014 when he had 46 points.

Hockey’s Future had this to say about Watson:

"Watson is a solid two-way centerman but with the versatility to play the wing and the shutdown role against the opposition’s best forwards. He can take over games with his effort and determination. The big forward does all the little things well in order to win hockey games: blocking shots, making the big hit, winning the important face-offs and scoring the timely goals. The first round pick has good offensive skills but does not project into a big goal scorer at the NHL level just a solid shutdown center with some offensive upside. Watson is the type of player that a team needs to win playoff games and championships.Watson is one of several forwards who will be competing for a spot with the Predators in training camp this fall and is likely to begin the season in the AHL barring a trade. A former first-round pick he has not been the point-per-game scorer at the pro level that he was during his junior career but his ability to make a smooth transition and play both center and wing is a plus. He must continue to develop the other areas of his game to play at the NHL level."

Watson will most definitely compete for a roster spot with the Predators this season. He’s had a few terrific AHL campaigns and they’d like to capitalize with their first round pick.