Predators agree to terms with Austin Watson on 3-year, $3.3M deal

The Nashville Predators signed restricted free-agent forward Austin Watson to a three-year contract with an annual average value of $1.1 million, the team announced Monday.

In his first full NHL season, Watson tallied 17 points, 99 penalty minutes, and 143 hits in 77 games while averaging 12:26 minutes of ice time per night.

The 25-year-old hasn't quite lived up to his first-round pick billing (he was chosen 18th overall in 2010), but he proved to be a valuable bottom-six forward during Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup Final, tallying nine points and 106 hits (!) in 22 postseason games.

Given that the 6-foot-4 Watson has three 20-goal seasons under his belt in the AHL, more offensive contributions at the NHL level could be right around the corner.

Ryan Johansen is the last remaining RFA in need of a new contract on David Poile's to-do list, and according to Cap Friendly, the team's longtime general manager has just under $14 million in cap room to play with.

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