A product of the Detroit Compuware youth hockey program that produced Eric Lindros, Pat LaFontaine and Mike Modano, Watson had success right from the beginning of his junior career, winning an Ontario Hockey League title and the Memorial Cup with Windsor in 2008-09 and being named the team's top rookie.
Traded by Windsor to Peterborough during the 2009-10 season, Watson missed five weeks because of a broken ankle after blocking a shot while playing in the 2010 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game. He helped the United States win gold at the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship before the Nashville Predators selected him in the first round (No. 18) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
A product of the Detroit Compuware youth hockey program that produced Eric Lindros, Pat LaFontaine and Mike Modano, Watson had success right from the beginning of his junior career, winning an Ontario Hockey League title and the Memorial Cup with Windsor in 2008-09 and being named the team's top rookie.
Traded by Windsor to Peterborough during the 2009-10 season, Watson missed five weeks because of a broken ankle after blocking a shot while playing in the 2010 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game. He helped the United States win gold at the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship before the Nashville Predators selected him in the first round (No. 18) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
He was named Peterborough's co-MVP in 2010-11 after scoring a team-high 34 goals. He was also selected as the team's hardest-working player. Traded by Peterborough to London in January 2012, Watson won the 2012 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, presented to the OHL playoff MVP, after leading his new team to the Robertson Cup. He played in his second Memorial Cup and was named to the tournament all-star team. Smith also was voted the best penalty killer in the OHL's Western Conference.
At the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, he led the United States with six assists and nine points. Watson had seven points, including a natural hat trick, in a 12-2 victory against Latvia.
Watson turned pro for the 2012-13 season with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League led the team with 20 goals, ranking fifth among AHL rookies. He also was second on Milwaukee with 37 points. Watson made his NHL debut April 7, 2013, against the Chicago Blackhawks and scored his first NHL goal in Nashville's home finale April 23, 2013, against the Calgary Flames.
Watson tied for the American Hockey League lead in game-winning goals with seven in 2013-14. The next season he led Milwaukee with 26 goals and was second with 44 points.
Watson, who played his first full NHL season with Nashville in 2015-16, had three points (one goal, two assists) Nov. 10, 2015, against the Ottawa Senators. His biggest night with the Predators came on May 22, 2017, when he scored two goals to help Nashville advance to the Stanley Cup for the first time by defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6-3.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- OHL Playoff MVP (2012)
- Traded to Ottawa by Nashville for a 4th-round pick in 2021 NHL Draft, October 10, 2020.
