Paul Skrbina

The Tennessean

UPDATE:NHL reduces Austin Watson's suspension to 18 games

Predators forward Austin Watson was suspended 27 games by the NHL on Wednesday, following the league's investigation after Watson pleaded no contest in July to misdemeanor domestic assault.

Watson was arrested in June after allegedly striking his girlfriend outside a Shell gas station in Franklin. Watson was released on $4,500 bond June 20 and sentenced to three months' probation that includes an inpatient program for alcohol and substance abuse and 26 weeks of batterer intervention.

Watson, whose punishment comes without pay and will cost him $362,195 of his $1.1 million salary, also will miss the preseason. He won’t be able to rejoin the team until Dec. 3 against Buffalo.

“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,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

The league's ruling came after an in-person meeting with Watson in New York on Sept. 7. The NHL Players' Association plans to file an appeal on Watson's behalf, according to the Associated Press.

The Predators said in a statement the organization "supported and worked closely" with the league during its investigation.

No specific domestic violence policy

Unlike MLB, the NFL and NBA, the NHL does not have a specific domestic violence policy.

According to the police report, the woman, who is the mother of the couple's infant child, "became extremely upset" when Watson was arrested for fear it would damage his career .

Watson told officers at the scene he had pushed the woman. The 31-year-old victim said Watson "sometimes gets handsy." One officer said he noticed red marks on her chest.

Watson, 26, was one of three Predators players who participated in an anti-domestic violence video for the YWCA that was pulled from the organization's site following his arrest.

"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 team said in a statement.

The Predators begin training camp Thursday.

Reach Paul Skrbina pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

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