The Detroit Red wings have recalled forward Austin Watson under emergency conditions. He will support the Wings as they approach a stretch of must-win games to keep their playoff hopes alive. Watson was on the Detroit roster through early-April, but was returned to the minors for two games this weekend. He recorded three goals, five points, and six shots on goal in the pair of games.
Watson’s hot weekend brought his AHL scoring up to 19 goals and 42 points in 58 games this season. Those marks place Watson second on the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in total points, and third on the team in goals. He also leads the team with 96 penalty minutes – 45 more than anyone else on the squad. Watson’s high-event style has translated in bits-and-pieces to the Red Wings’ roster, where he has two points and 17 penalty minutes in eight games this season. He scored his pair of goals on his last NHL recall – netting them in back-to-back games on March 24th and 25th.
Watson spent the last five seasons entirely in the NHL – serving in the role of fourth-line enforcer over stretches with the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Minor league games this season mark Watson’s first since he was with Nashville in 2018-19. He’s filled a minimal-usage role everywhere he’s gone, with teams leaning on him to generate tons of hits and take fights – while offering the occasional boost of shooting luck. Those will be the traits that Detroit looks to add in as they prepare to face their Wild Card opposition, the Montreal Canadiens, on Tuesday night.
Wings lack the horsepower to make playoffs again. Need some serious reconsideration of their 3rd and 4th lines and as usual, and their D (as usual). Beyond the Wings, the homogenization of the NHL has made the NHL somewhat of a boring affair. Akin to watching 82 all star games. Set your TV for the last 5 minutes of the 3rd in any game. If its within 2 points, watch till the end. Otherwise, move on to something more exciting like All Star poker or the fireplace channel.
Sorry to be a downer, but if it weren’t for the speed of the actual game itself, it is getting to feel like watching an NBA game.
I don’t completely disagree, but the play the during the regular season isn’t all bad or all good, some games are exciting, some aren’t, that’s the way it’s always been. But yes there are some other NBA elements creeping into the game that are not bettering the product.