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TKSmith16

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Forum: NHL SigningsNov. 1, 2019 at 1:31 p.m.
Thread: Nashville Predators signed Austin Watson (3 Years / $1,500,000 AAV)
It is surprising that a team would double down on someone with AW’s recent history. Does the cost off the ice - for the organization’s relationship with the community and women in particular - outweigh the gains *on* the ice? Difficult to quantify and ultimately impossible to know without knowing more details about the work Watson’s done and will continue to do to correct his behaviour and make reparations, to involved parties as well as to the organizations that fight VAW. I imagine that a significant chunk of this salary will go towards those organizations (publicly or not) and that the Preds are confident they’re making the right decision.

That all said, there is little to not like about this contract from a strictly hockey standpoint. They’ve shown acumen in locking up core complimentary players long-term (longer than most), see Sissons, Colton for another example. Watson was 10th in average all-situations ice-time, 4th in PK ice-time, amongst Predators F’s in 18/19; so far in 19/20 his numbers are not far off (10th and 6th respectively). I don’t foresee Watson not being one of the Preds top-12 (maybe even top-9 or top-10) forwards at any point in the next 4 years and, as such, this deal is solid for any player who can provide depth scoring and PK support like Watson has consistently shown he is able.