Red Wings recall veteran left winger on emergency loan

The Red Wings announced Wednesday they’ve recalled left winger Austin Watson from AHL Grand Rapids under emergency conditions. Detroit has an open roster spot, so no corresponding transaction is needed.

Watson comes up to give the Red Wings 12 available forwards in case Vladimir Tarasenko, who head coach Derek Lalonde told reporters is a game-time decision Wednesday night against the Jets with an illness, can’t play (via Sean Shapiro of EP Rinkside). 

If he plays, it would be just his second appearance of the season. Signed to a PTO by Detroit in late August, Watson earned a two-way deal after a successful training camp and subsequently cleared waivers. 

He’s spent the entire 2024-25 campaign in the minors aside from a one-day recall on Oct. 14, which resulted in him entering the lineup against the Rangers. He played under five minutes and posted a -1 rating with a minor penalty.

The 32-year-old has done well in his first taste of minor league action since a conditioning stint in the 2018-19 campaign. Watson is tied for the team lead in scoring with six assists through seven games, leading it in both PIMs (19) and rating (+6). While he’s never shown the offensive upside at the NHL level to be much more than a fourth-line piece, he’s suiting up as one of the best power forwards in the AHL this season.

Watson can remain on the NHL roster for 28 days or play nine more NHL games before he needs waivers again to return to the minors. He spent last year with the Lightning, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists in 33 appearances. The 2010 first-round pick of the Predators has made 516 NHL appearances for Detroit, Nashville, Ottawa and Tampa Bay dating back to the 2012-13 campaign.