NHL To Investigate Nashville Predators' Austin Watson

NASHVILLE, TN - Austin Watson could face league discipline following his no-contest plea to a domestic assault charge, as the NHL annnounced it is launching a full investigation of the Nashville Predators' forward.

A Williamson County judge sentenced Watson to three months probation Tuesday and ordered him to attend a 26-week batterers intervention program and inpatient drug and alcohol treatment. If the 26-year-old Ann Arbor, Mich. native completes the program his record will be expunged; if he violates his probation, he faces up to one year in jail.

Later Tuesday, the National Hockey League said it will conduct an investigation of its own.

"Following today’s events in Nashville, we have notified the club and the NHLPA that the league will be initiating a full investigation into the matter, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, to determine the extent to which league discipline for Mr. Watson’s off-ice conduct may be warranted and/or appropriate," the league said in a statement. "The club understands and agrees fully with the league’s view as to the extremely serious nature of the situation and has pledged its full cooperation in the process."

The Predators, in a statement, echoed the league, promising full support for the investigation.

"We will consult and cooperate with the NHL as an investigation is conducted into this matter, and will have no further comment until the NHL's investigation has reached its conclusion. Our priority right now is surrounding Austin ... and [his] family with the care and resources they need to heal and move forward," the Predators said in a statement.

While the NHL is unique among American sports leagues in having no set domestic violence procedure built into its collective bargaining agreement, Article 18-A of the current CBA sets a procedure for the commissioner to discipline players for "off-ice conduct." Potential punishments include suspension, fine or the outright cancellation of a player's contract.

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Watson's girlfriend, with whom he has a child, did not want to continue with the case, according to Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Sarah Davis, but because there were witnesses to the assault, the state decided to go through with the prosecution.

Davis handled the prosecution because Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper is married to Predators vice-president Gerry Helper and recused herself.

Franklin Police arrested Watson for domestic assault June 16 at a Shell station on Murfreesboro Road.

A passerby flagged down a Franklin Police officer, who wrote that when he arrived he saw a woman - later confirmed to be Watson's girlfriend and the mother of his child - cowering away from being shoved. The officer said that Watson and the woman were arguing about her drinking and being unable to attend a wedding, according to the arrest report, and Watson allegedly admitted to pushing her. The officer said there were red marks on her chest.

Watson, along with teammates Ryan Ellis, Mike Fisher and P.K. Subban, featured in the "Unsilence The Violence" public-awareness campaign that seeks to engage men in an effort to end domestic violence. The Nashville Predators Foundation made a $500,000 donation to the campaign run by the YWCA.

Watson had a career-high 14 goals in the 2017-18 season and added eight points in the playoffs.

Photo by Frederick Breedon for Getty Images