Austin Watson

Watson's ten goals and 16 points in 67 games a season ago were nothing to write home about, but his increased physicality was nice to see from a fantasy perspective. Watson finished the year with 213 hits, a new high-water mark by quite a margin. It's fair to wonder if the 30-year-old Michigan native will see his role decrease some as the Senators make a push to return to the playoffs in 2022-23, but there still might be enough here for extremely late-round value in leagues that place an extra emphasis on hits.

Watson's sixth and final season with the Predators saw him produce 14 points in 53 outings. He added 131 hits and 65 PIM as a bottom-six grinder, a role he'll likely continue with the Senators after he was traded during the offseason. The 29-year-old has enjoyed mild success on the scoresheet despite his limited role, but it's tough to see him exceeding the 15-point mark in 2020-21 with the shortened campaign. Fantasy managers in formats that reward hard-nosed play could add Watson as depth, but he'll likely be a non-factor in standard scoring leagues.

Thanks to a pair of suspensions, Watson only dressed for 37 games in 2018-19. On the ice, he was superb as a depth forward, scoring seven goals and 16 points while firing 64 shots on net. If he had played as many games as the previous season, the gritty winger likely would have set career highs in every scoring category. Watson should be able to post double-digit goals and 20-plus points while racking upwards of 100 PIM and 150 hits in 2019-20, making him an attractive option in fantasy leagues that reward the rough stuff.

Watson is a good example of a tough guy/agitator who can score a little. Last season, he ranked first on the team in PIM (123; fourth overall in the NHL) and hits (187), while also finishing the regular season with a career-high 14 goals along with five assists. His 27-game suspension following his arrest and subsequent no-contest plea on a domestic assault charge at the end of June will no doubt set the winger back this season. Assuming he can somehow put the incident behind him and move forward, Watson should return to a similar third-line checking role for the Preds following his ban.

The 2016-17 season did not get off to a good start for Watson, who was cut from training camp and placed on waivers in October. However, the Preds soon recalled him from the minors, and the 26-year-old went on to play in 77 of the next 79 games, recording a career-high 17 points as part of the Preds’ fourth line. Perhaps more impressively, Watson provided valuable scoring depth during the playoffs, contributing nine points in 22 games. That prompted the Preds to lock him up for the next three years with a new $3.3 million contract. Watson is expected to play a similar checking-line role for the Preds this season, but he could be given the occasional look in a scoring role, as he’s been a decent producer at AHL Milwaukee in recent years (90 points in 152 games from 2013 to 2015). He’s proven to be an asset in fantasy formats that count hits and PIM --- collecting 143 and 99, respectively, last season -- and the 26-year-old’s upside to improve offensively makes him an attractive sleeper in deep leagues

Watson hasn't appeared in a game for the Predators since the lockout year of 2012-13, but after back-to-back 40-plus-point campaigns at AHL Milwaukee, it appears the team is preparing to clear a spot for him in 2015-16. The 23-year-old should benefit from the departures of forwards Matt Cullen and Mike Santorelli in free agency, as it's unclear if the Preds will look to replace them with veteran players. Even if Watson cracks the squad this season, he seems unlikely to win a top-six role off the bat, which might make it difficult for him to attain much fantasy relevance.

The Preds are very keen on Watson, who was their first-round draft pick this year, with GM David Poile even comparing him to Vancouver's Ryan Kesler. However, the team is already pretty deep on the right side, with wingers Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat both ahead of Watson on the depth chart, so it might be awhile before he's able to crack the roster. He probably won't garner any real fantasy value for another season or two, but keep an eye on him.