Red Wings Extend PTO to Veteran NHL Forward

Add another Michigander to the roster of the Detroit Red Wings. The club is inviting forward Austin Watson to training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Watson’s representatives, WD Sports & Entertainment, were making the announcement of the offer via their social media feed on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

🖊: 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

A 32-year-old left-winger from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Watson is a veteran of 515 NHL games. He spent the past season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, collecting 2-2-4 totals in 33 games.

Watson has also played with the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators. The Predators were selecting him 18th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft.

As a junior player, Watson won the 2008-09 Memorial Cup across the Detroit River with the Windsor Spitfires. He’d also play in the 2011-12 Memorial Cup with the London Knights.

How Likely Are Red Wings To Sign Watson?

Raw data shows that about 20% of players who attend NHL camps come away with a contract. Last season, the Red Wings did opt to sign goaltender Michael Hutchinson from a training camp PTO. He first would ink an AHL deal, which was later upgraded to an NHL pact.

There are certainly elements in Watson’s game that would come in handy to Detroit’s cause. He’s a physical presence as a bottom-six forward. Even last season he wound up dishing out 85 hits in just 33 games.

It marked the first time in seven seasons that Watson didn’t go over 100 hits. He was responsible for a career-high 213 hits with the Senators in 2021-22. That season also saw Watson scoring 10 goals. He netted a career-best 14 goals with Nashville in 2017-18.

The Red Wings aren’t deep in experienced NHL-caliber forwards beyond the 12 players who figure to start the season on the club’s roster. If Watson isn’t able to claim a place on the big club, he’d definitely be an attractive option to be available with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. He could join another 2010 first-round pick, goalie Jack Campbell (11th overall) were Watson to wind up with the Griffins.

Watson has always found playing against the Red Wings to be an enjoyable experience. He’s scored six goals in 16 career games vs Detroit.