Detroit Red Wings remain undecided on forward's future with the organization
Photo credit: New York Times
The Detroit Red Wings and Austin Watson could be headed for a split if the team decides the fourth-liner isn't worth the investment.
Austin Watson is a tough customer in the NHL. While he's been used as nothing more than an enforcer in Detroit, he has offensive upside seen in the AHL.
His ancillary role in the Red Wings' lineup was evident in the game against the Boston Bruins, where he'd only pay 3:06 TOI, and would "earn" we use that word sarcastically, five times that with 15 PIMs.
Soon after winger Alex DeBrincat dropped the gloves with towering Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke, Watson and Lauko would engage in a tilt.
Watson would handle the Bruins forward with ease after pummeling him and wrestling him to the ice.
He'd receive a lot of fanfare from the Little Caesars Arena crowd afterward.
You have to wonder for someone who has earned himself the love of the fans, what does the future hold for him in Detroit?
Todd McLellan mentioned how much the momentum shifted when Watson hammered Jakub Lauko.
"[DeBrincat] and Watty energized the group and the arena."
While Lucas Raymond would geek out about the situation and mentioned how much different the arena felt afterward.
"It was awesome," added Lucas Raymond. "I've seen Cat chuck 'em a couple times now, and he's got some fire in home, so obviously huge. It fires us up, gets the crowd into it right away, and Watty stepping up as well is awesome to see. I think that just goes to show how much guys care and how committed guys are to this."
Watson should ideally have a role in the Red Wings' lineup, of course, not as a goal-scorer but a defensive forward who isn't afraid to drop the gloves and defend his teammates.
But like the modern NHL, most teams don't have a spot for a guy who plays 3 minutes a night, and this might explain his future with the team.
McLellan would later explain the reasoning behind the enforcer's limited utilization that night.
However, Watson's limited ice time (which McLellan explained by saying, "It was nothing that he did or didn't do. It was just shortening the bench up a little bit."
For now, the Red Wings have a spot for someone who can rally the team and use brute force on the ice to push the game in a different direction.
The Red Wings pay Watson league minimum, $775K, and will be a UFA at the end of the 2024-2025 season.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
MARS 30 | 175 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings remain undecided on forward's future with the organization Do you think the Detroit Red Wings need a forward like Austin Watson in the lineup? | ||
| Yes | 163 | 93.1 % |
| No | 12 | 6.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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