Preds' Watson pleads no contest to domestic assault charge

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic assault charge Tuesday after admitting to pushing his girlfriend at a gas station in June, according to Natalie Neysa Alund of The Tennessean.

Watson will be placed on probation, and any violation could result in up to a year in jail. Among the conditions of his probation, Watson is ordered to complete 26 weeks of a batterer intervention course.

.@PredsNHL on Austin Watson arrest: pic.twitter.com/EScaxJgfAW

- Rebecca Cardenas (@RebeccaWSMV) June 20, 2018

If convicted, Austin faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, and up to a $2,500 fine.

The 26-year-old was freed on a $4,500 bond, and the Predators released the following statement after his arrest:

The National Hockey League released the following statement regarding the developments involving @PredsNHL forward Austin Watson. pic.twitter.com/nhI7OegKJe

- NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 24, 2018

Watson signed a three-year, $3.3-million contract with the Predators last summer, and had 19 points in 76 games during 2017-18.

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