Austin Watson

Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing
Age: 34y-1m-23d (Jan 13, 1992)
Exp: 8 Years
Country: US
College: Windsor
Drafted: Round 1 (#18 overall), 2010
Agent(s): Murray Koontz (WD Sports & Entertainment)

2025-2025 Extension (CURRENT)

Austin Watson signed a 1 year, $775,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings, including $775,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $775,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $775,000
Average Salary:
$775,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
BUYOUT CONTRACT
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2025-26 34
Buried
$775,000 0.81% $28,406 $28,406
2026-27 35
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cap Hit Cap % League
2025-26 34
Buried
$775,000 $775,000 0.81%
2026-27 35
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025-26 34
Buried
$28,406 $28,406 $28,406 - $28,406 $28,406
Source: NHL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $775,000
Average Salary:
$775,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2023-2023 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $776,665
Average Salary:
$776,665
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2020-2022 Extension

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $4,500,000
Average Salary:
$1,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2023 / UFA
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2017-2019

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $3,300,000
Average Salary:
$1,100,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2015-2016

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $1,150,000
Average Salary:
$575,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2017 / RFA
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2011-2014 Rookie

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $2,700,000
Average Salary:
$900,000
Signing Bonus:
$270,000
Free Agent:
2015 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$9,941,935

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2011 20
Active
$90,000
$90,000
2015 24
Active
$575,000
$665,000
2016 25
Active
$575,000
$1,240,000
2017 26
Active
$1,000,000
$2,240,000
2018 27
Active
$1,100,000
$3,340,000
2019 28
Active
$1,200,000
$4,540,000
2020 29
Injured
$1,500,000
$6,040,000
2021 30
Active
$1,500,000
$7,540,000
2022 31
Active
$1,500,000
$9,040,000
2023 32
Active
$776,665
$9,816,665
2024 33
Reserve / minor-buried
$96,864
$9,913,529
2025 34
Reserve / minor-buried
$28,406
$9,941,935
Total      
$9,941,935
$9,941,935
Total
$9,941,935

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $4,450,000 $90,000 - $4,540,000
3 $4,500,000 - - $4,500,000
1 $776,665 - - $776,665
2 $125,270 - - $125,270
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2011
20
$90,000
$90,000
$90,000
2015
24
$575,000
$575,000
$665,000
2016
25
$575,000
$575,000
$1,240,000
2017
26
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$2,240,000
2018
27
$1,100,000
$1,100,000
$3,340,000
2019
28
$1,200,000
$1,200,000
$4,540,000
2020
29
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
$6,040,000
2021
30
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
$7,540,000
2022
31
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
$9,040,000
2023
32
$776,665
$776,665
$9,816,665
2024
33
$96,864
$96,864
$9,913,529
2025
34
$28,406
$28,406
$9,941,935
Total
$9,851,935
$90,000
$9,941,935
$9,941,935
Total
$9,851,935
$90,000
$9,941,935

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $4,450,000 $90,000 - $4,540,000
3 $4,500,000 - - $4,500,000
1 $776,665 - - $776,665
2 $125,270 - - $125,270

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2023-24 TBL Jan 24, 2024 - Feb 08, 2024 0 Lower Body
2021-22 OTT Nov 06, 2021 - Nov 16, 2021 0 COVID-19
2021-22 OTT Oct 12, 2021 - Nov 02, 2021 0 Ankle
2020-21 OTT Mar 24, 2021 - May 08, 2021 0 Hand
  • Feb 19, 2026 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Feb 17, 2026 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Nov 03, 2025 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 30, 2025 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Apr 17, 2025 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Apr 08, 2025 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Apr 03, 2025 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Mar 21, 2025 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Mar 05, 2025 Signed a 1 year $775,000 contract extension with Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 31, 2024 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 30, 2024 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 15, 2024 Demoted to the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 14, 2024 Promoted from the Minors by Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 08, 2024 Signed a 1 year $775,000 contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Dec 10, 2023 Fined $2,022 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Nashville (NAS)
  • Aug 23, 2023 Signed a 1 year $776,665 contract with Tampa Bay (TBL)
  • Dec 18, 2022 Fined $4,054 Interference against Dylan Larkin (DET)
  • Feb 13, 2022 Suspended 2 games for a Hit to the head against Jack Achan (BOS), forfeiting $15,000 in 2021-22 salary with Ottawa (OTT)
  • Oct 10, 2020 Traded to Ottawa (OTT) from Nashville (NSH) for 2021 4th round pick
  • Oct 31, 2019 Signed a 3 year $4.5 million contract extension with Nashville (NSH)
  • Jan 29, 2019 Suspended indefinitely for a 2nd substance abuse violation
  • Sep 13, 2018 Suspended 18 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, forfeiting $106,451 in 2018 salary with Nashville (NAS)
  • Nov 19, 2017 Suspended 2 games for boarding Dominic Toninato (COL) forfeiting $11,828 in 2017-18 salary with Nashville (NSH)
  • Jul 25, 2017 Signed a 3 year $3.3 million contract with Nashville (NSH)
  • Jun 29, 2015 Signed a 2 year $1.15 million contract with Nashville (NAS)
  • Mar 30, 2011 Signed a 3 year $2.7 million contract with Nashville (NAS)
  • Jun 25, 2010 Drafted by Nashville (NAS): Round 1 (#18 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Dec 10, 2023 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Nashville (NAS) $2,022
Dec 18, 2022 Interference against Dylan Larkin (DET) $4,054
Fines: 2 $6,076

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Feb 13, 2022 Hit to the head against Jack Achan (BOS) 2 $15,000
Jan 29, 2019 Substance Abuse 0 $402,152
Sep 13, 2018 Substance Abuse 18 $106,452
Nov 19, 2017 Boarding Dominic Toninato (COL) 2 $11,828
Suspensions: 4 $535,432
Year Team GP G MIN A PTS +/- SOG S% PPG PPA SHG SHA Blk Hit PIM FO Won
2025 DET 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024 DET 13 3 102 0 0 1 13 .231 0 0 0 0 2 36 17 2
2023 TB 33 2 239 2 4 2 17 .118 0 0 0 0 20 77 93 0
2022 OTT 75 9 767 2 11 -7 79 .114 0 0 3 0 61 165 123 7
2021 OTT 67 10 803 6 16 -3 88 .114 0 0 1 0 63 213 91 7
2020 OTT 34 3 408 7 10 -7 41 .073 0 0 0 1 49 100 40 6
2019 NAS 53 6 615 8 14 -9 50 .120 0 0 0 2 48 131 65 6
2018 NAS 37 7 536 9 16 11 64 .109 1 0 0 0 28 109 39 7
2017 NAS 76 14 937 5 19 2 96 .146 0 0 4 1 78 187 123 27
2016 NAS 77 5 956 12 17 14 90 .056 0 0 0 1 66 143 99 17
2015 NAS 57 3 570 7 10 -4 55 .055 0 0 0 0 45 74 32 6
2012 NAS 6 1 76 0 1 -2 4 .250 0 0 0 0 2 2 19
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