Mark Humphrey/Associated Press The NHL has suspended Nashville Predators left wing Austin Watson for the first 27 games of the 2018-19 season because of "unacceptable off-ice conduct," Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported Wednesday. Johnston noted Watson pleaded no contest to a domestic assault charge in July. He also shared NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's statement on the suspension: "I have determined that Nashville player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner. Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held view that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct." Katie Strang of The Athletic reported the NHL Players' Association will file an appeal of the penalty. Paul Skrbina of the Tennessean noted the NHL does not currently have a specific domestic violence policy with automatic punishments, in contrast to the NFL, NBA and MLB. According to Skrbina, Watson was arrested in June and released on $4,500 bond. He was sentenced to 26 weeks of batterer intervention and an inpatient program for alcohol and substance abuse as part of three months' probation. In August, Natalie Neysa Alund and Adam Tamburin of the Tennessean reported a witness saw Watson "swat" his girlfriend outside a gas station. The woman, who is also the mother of Watson's child, had scratches on her chest and a "bruised and bloody" left shin and told police Watson "sometimes gets handsy" with her. The Predators drafted Watson with a first-round pick in 2010. He appeared in 76 games for the team last season.<doc-sep>Nashville Predators left wing Austin Watson was suspended by the NHL for a domestic violence incident. If it stands he would be ineligible until Dec. 3. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson is suspended 27 games, as well as all of the preseason, for “unacceptable off-ice conduct,” the NHL announced in a news release Wednesday. The decision comes after a league investigation and in-person hearing in New York Friday, Sept. 7. Watson was involved in an incident June 16 with his girlfriend and pleaded no contest to the domestic assault charge July 24. The NHLPA is appealing the suspension. The Predators released a statement Wednesday, and Preds President and CEO Sean Henry spoke publicly Thursday about it during the third annual AMEND experience, a gathering of Nashville and Middle Tennessee community leaders committed to ending violence against women and girls. NHL commissioner determines Watson domestic violence suspension NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman determined the suspension under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, based on an investigation and conduct hearing. “I have determined that Nashville player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner,” Bettman said in a statement. “Today’s ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL’s strongly held view that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct.” The NHL is the only one of the four major sports that does not have a domestic violence policy in place and decides suspensions on a case-by-case basis. It did not share any details from its investigation or hearing. Watson pleads no-contest to assault Watson was arrested and charged with domestic assault in June after arguing with his girlfriend at a gas station outside of Nashville in Franklin, Tennessee. Their 2-month-old child was with them. A witness flagged a police car to report the situation; the officer said he noticed red marks on the victim’s chest. Watson admitted to shoving her, according to the report in the Tennessean. The 26-year-old Watson made his plea in late July and was sentenced to three months’ probation, a 26-week batterer’s intervention course, and an impatient treatment program for drugs and alcohol. Story continues Predators, NHLPA make statements The NHLPA said it will be filing an appeal on behalf of Watson, while the Predators said they worked closely with and supported the NHL in its investigation. It wished Watson, his girlfriend and their child “the best” during the suspension “as they move forward.” “Our commitment to AMEND is the same today as it was when we partnered six years ago with the mission of making Nashville the safest city for girls and women,” the Predators said in the statement. “We will continue to evolve and grow our programming to work toward this shared objective.” An impartial arbitrator will hear the case and make a decision within 30 days of the hearing, per the CBA. If the suspension stands, Watson won’t be eligible until Dec. 3 against the Buffalo Sabres. Preds CEO speaks at AMEND Experience Team President and CEO Sean Henry spoke at the AMEND Experience one day after the NHL made its determination, telling a group of more than 500 the organization is moving forward, according to the Tennessean. “We’re not hiding from it but we are facing it,” he said. “We’re not focusing on the suspension but on [Watson] and his family [as well as] the organization continuing its efforts on ending domestic violence,” he said. YWCA, which started the AMEND program. AMEND Together is a prevention initiative to end the domestic violence epidemic that focuses on empowering young men and boys. Watson was one of three Nashville players who participated in an anti-domestic violence video for the YWCA. The Tennessean reported it was pulled from the YWCA site after the arrest. Watson’s impact for the Predators Watson scored a career-high 14 goals last season for the Predators with five assists for 19 points. He had five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games. All 216 of his regular season games have come with the Preds. Nashville drafted him in 2010 with the 18th overall pick. The same year he helped the United States win gold at the World Under-18 Championships. More from Yahoo Sports: • Naomi Osaka reveals what Serena told her while fans booed at U.S. Open • Mayor lifts Nike ban in Louisiana town following outcry • Jags coach gets too ‘pissed off’ to watch Super Bowl • Antonio Brown apologizes to ESPN reporter after sending threatening tweet<doc-sep>
The NHL has suspended Nashville Predators forward 27 games as a result of a domestic violence incident that occurred this summer, the league announced on Wednesday. Watson, 26, will miss the entire preseason and the first 27 games of the 2018-19 regular season after pleading no contest to a charge of domestic assault stemming from an altercation between Watson and his girlfriend in June. Watson was arrested on suspicion of assault at a gas station in Franklin, Tennessee after a police officer was flagged down by a witness. Watson told police that he had been engaged in an argument with his girlfriend and admitted to pushing her during the altercation. Watson's girlfriend had red marks on her chest, and she said that Watson was responsible for them. She also told police that "sometimes he gets handsy," although the police report did not elaborate on the details of that statement. Shortly after Watson's plea, the NHL announced that they would launch an investigation into the incident and determine what disciplinary measures would be appropriate. On Wednesday, the league released a statement on their ruling. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman levied the suspension under Rule 18-A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Commissioner's ruling came following an investigation by the League and an in-person hearing in New York on Friday, Sept. 7. The investigation and hearing were conducted, pursuant to the CBA, to determine the relevant facts and circumstances relating to a June 16, 2018, incident involving Austin Watson and his domestic partner. The incident ultimately resulted in Watson pleading no contest to a charge of domestic assault on July 24, 2018. "I have determined that Nashville Player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held view that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct." The NHL has no domestic violence policy and handles each incident on a case-by-case basis. The NHLPA plans to file an appeal on Watson's behalf. Watson, who was a first-round pick in 2010, recently signed a three-year, $3.3 million extension with the Predators prior to last season. He had a career-high 14 goals and 19 points in 2017-2018. He also recorded eight points during the Predators' playoff run, which ended at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets in the second round.