Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson will miss nearly one-third of the season after he was suspended by the NHL for 27 games on Wednesday over a domestic-assault case.

Watson, 26, had pleaded no contest on July 24 to a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault for a June 16 incident involving his girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child.

"I have determined that Nashville Player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement explaining his ruling, which was handed down on the eve of training camp. "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 is cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct."

The NHL Players' Association said it would appeal the suspension on behalf of Watson.

According to a report released by Franklin, Tenn., police, Watson was spotted fighting with his girlfriend in an SUV in a gas station parking lot. Police said the woman had scratches on her chest and a bruised, bloody shin.

Under Watson's plea, his record can be expunged if he follows the terms of his three-month probation. If he violates probation, he faces up to a year in jail.

Watson had a hearing with Bettman on Sept. 7.

The NHL also has a pending investigation into the 2014 domestic-violence case against suspended defenseman Slava Voynov to determine if he can return to the league. He had pleaded no contest in 2015 to an incident that left his wife bloodied, though his conviction was recently dismissed. Voynov played in Russia the past three seasons.

Watson is entering the second year of a three-year, $3.3 million contract.

The Predators said in a statement that they had cooperated with the NHL during its investigation of Watson and will continue to work with the group AMEND to prevent violence against women and girls.

"We will continue to evolve and grow our programming to work toward this shared objective," the Predators said.