Does Austin Watson Have a Future with the Red Wings?
Mar 29, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Austin Watson (24) and Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) fight in the first period at Little Caesars Arena. (Lon Horwedel, Imagn Images)In Saturday's win over the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings forward Austin Watson had five times as many minutes in penalties (15) as he did on the ice (3:06), but the six-foot-four, 238-pound winger made his presence felt in the form of an early fight that helped energize the Red Wings in the opening minutes.
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Not quite a minute after Alex DeBrincat fought Andrew Peeke, Watson dropped the gloves with Jakub Lauko. Watson hammered Lauko with right hands at hand center ice, wrestled him to the ice, then saluted the Little Caesars Arena crowd as he skated over to the penalty box to join DeBrincat.
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There are few ways to endear yourself to a team or a fanbase as straightforward as a fight. As coach Todd McLellan put it, "[DeBrincat] and Watty energized the group and the arena."
"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."
On that basis, it's not hard to see where Watson (who signed a one-year, two-way contract extension earlier this month) can help a Red Wings team that has at times allowed itself to be flustered by heavy, physical opponents.
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.") also offers a reminder of his limitations as a player. The good news for the Red Wings is that Watson is a low cost option under team control.
How do you think Detroit should use Watson moving forward? Let us know in the comments!
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THE WINGS NEED TO STOP BEING SO NICE, SO 'REFINED',
SO POLITE, SO SKILLED, SO FAST...OR EASY TO PLAY AGAINST.
NONE OF THE TEAMS IN THE NHL ARE SCARED OF THE WINGS.
YA DON'T GO INTO BATTLE WITH A WHITE HANDKERCHIEF OR
EXPECT OTHER TO GIVE YOU A
"FREE LUNCH"
TALENT IS GREAT BUT GRIT...GRIT
N MORE GRIT IS
A WINNING
STRATEGY.
DEMANDING RESPECT FROM YOUR RIVALS AND MAKING THEM PAY 200' BOTH WAYS OF THE ICE AND PAY AN EVER BITTER PRICE IN EVERY CORNER GETS THINGS DONE.
OTHER TEAMS NEED TO FEAR YOU...
TO THE PLAYERS'
YOU ARE ALL MILLIONAIRES... BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT PLENTY OF PEOPLE (THE COMMON FOLK)
WHO PAY "BIG $$$ TO SEE AND WATCH YOU...WE NEED TO KNOW YER HEART IS INTO IT.
NONE OF US GET TO KEEP OUR JOB IF WE DON'T PERFORM...WE GET FIRED...
YER COMPLACENCY SHOULD REWARDED BY GETTING RID OF YOU..IF YOU DON'T WANNA OR FEEL LIKE PLAYIN' JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THOSE THAT DO!!!
MOST HARD WORKING PEOPLE (THE FANS) WOULD DO ANYTHING AND GIVE EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT TO BE IN YOUR
SHOES...O SODO YER JOB...
THE HUNGRY DOG GET THE BONE...I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THIS MYTH "JUST MAKING THE PLAYOFFS...WHAT
RUBBISH...
THE GOAL AND ONLY GOAL IS TO WIN THE LORD STANLEY...
TO THINK OTHERWISE IS SIMPLIFY LYING TO YERSELF AND WHY YOU'LL NEVER GET THERE!
WE ALL KNOW THE WINGS CAN...BUT THEY NEED TO STOP EXPECTING SO LITTLE WHILE DEPENDING ON OTHERS TO LOSE TO GET THERE....
JUST STOP 🛑 😠