Nashville Predators winger Austin Watson, 26, pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor domestic assault on Tuesday and was sentenced to three months’ probation. The NHL is opening its own investigation to determine “the extent to which League discipline…may be warranted and/or appropriate.”
The NHL announced Tuesday that they will be opening an investigation into the off-ice conduct of Austin Watson after the Nashville Predators winger pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor domestic assault.
Watson, 26, entered the no contest plea Tuesday and was subsequently handed three months’ probation. According to The Tennessean’s Natalie Neysa Alund, Watson was placed on judicial diversion, and will have the charge expunged should he comply with the terms of his probation. However, if Watson violates probation, he could face up to one year in jail. Alund reported that as part of Watson’s probation, he must complete “26 weeks of a batterer intervention course, an inpatient treatment program for drugs and alcohol and that he maintain peaceful contact with the woman in the case, with whom he recently had a child.”
The charge against Watson stemmed from a mid-June incident involving his girlfriend at a gas station outside of Nashville. According to an arrest warrant obtained by The Tennessean, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and police noticed “red marks on the woman’s chest.” The warrant noted the couple were arguing about her drinking and their inability to attend a wedding.
At the time Watson’s arrest was made public, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic’s Katie Strang that the situation would be “dealt with in due course.” In the aftermath of Watson’s plea on Tuesday, the NHL released the following statement:
"Following today’s events in Nashville, we have notified the Club and the NHLPA that the League will be initiating a full investigation into the matter, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, to determine the extent to which League discipline for Mr. Watson’s off-ice conduct may be warranted and/or appropriate.
The Club understands and agrees fully with the League’s view as to the extremely serious nature of the situation and has pledged its full cooperation in the process.
We will refrain from making any further public comments on the matter until our investigation is complete.”
The Predators told The Tennessean in a statement that they will be cooperating with the NHL investigation and that their “priority right now is surrounding Austin (and his family) with the care and resources they need to heal and move forward.”
On June 20, when Watson’s arrest was made public, Nashville stated they would cooperate with the police investigation and continued by acknowledging that they “have and will continue to stand side by side with AMEND in the fight to end violence against women.” AMEND Together is a program run by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee “dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging and educating men and boys,” which Watson, as well as teammates P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis and former captain Mike Fisher, helped promote as part of a campaign called “Unsilence the Violence” in January 2017.
Following Watson’s no contest plea, his attorney, Mark L. Puryear III, made a statement on Watson’s behalf. Per Alund, Puryear said that Watson is, “very appreciative of the support he has received from his fans, from his family, from his teammates. He’s looking forward to getting back on with his life. He and (his girlfriend) are looking forward to getting back together with their daughter.” Puryear added that Watson wishes to remain with the Predators.
Watson was Nashville’s first-round pick in 2010, selected 18th overall, and played in his 200th game with the franchise this past season. Breaking into the NHL in 2012-13 with a six-game stint, Watson became a fixture of the lineup the following season and has gone on to contribute 23 goals, 47 points and 254 penalty minutes with an average ice time of 11:46 across 216 games. In addition, Watson has scored nine goals and 17 points in 35 playoff games for the Predators.
A restricted free agent last summer, Watson signed a three-year pact worth $3.3-million with the Predators that runs through to the end of the 2019-20 campaign.