Nashville Predators: Status Report on Players that Were Lost
By Chad Minton
![Craig Smith #12 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on January 18, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Bruins 1-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Craig Smith #12 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on January 18, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Bruins 1-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/77a34644fa357d21eec115c8e1f8e3741898c0c12f79c7cfe2eac4fe2572c879.jpg)
Austin Watson, Ottawa Senators
It was time to move on from Austin Watson for the Predators. He did some decent things for them over his six seasons in Nashville, but just never really took that next step in his development.
Watson was always a fourth line guy that never showed any higher of a ceiling. He did make some big blocked shots and had the occasional fight that made highlight reels, but that was about it.
The Ottawa Senators are one of the worst teams in the league, and Watson has managed two goals and an assist for them through eight games.
Watson actually racked up ten penalty minutes in a game against the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the season. That puts up already up at 18 penalty minutes on the young season.
In his limited ice time that’s barely above 11 minutes per game, Watson has also laid out 23 hits. Something we always knew him for in Nashville.
Watson is currently under a three-year deal worth $1.5M per year with Ottawa. A deal I’m glad the Predators didn’t make.