Returning to the organization for the first time since being returned to available status and entering the follow-up care phase of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health (SABH) Program, Watson slipped on a Preds jersey and skated with a limited group during an optional practice on Wednesday afternoon.

There's no set schedule, no grand itinerary as to when the Predators forward would like to get back into the lineup and help his team on the ice, but just having him back at the team's practice facility on Wednesday provided a boost for everyone near it.

The hope is for Watson to eventually return to game action once more, but again, no one is looking past the current 24-hour period.

"It feels awesome to be back," Watson said following the skate. "To just be in the normal swing of things, coming in for a meeting, getting on the ice for a skate and just getting back to doing what I love to do is great… Today was a good day. It felt great to be back out there and we'll take on tomorrow when we get there."

"We're in day one right now," Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Watson's return. "We have some thoughts on where we want to go with it, but I think we want to get through a couple days here and see where Austin is at and then go from there."

From an organizational standpoint, seeing Watson back in the locker room sporting a Nashville logo for the first time in almost two months was a welcomed sight - a member of their family returning to make the group whole again.

"I had a big smile on my face, and got to give him a big hug today," Preds forward Colton Sissons, one of Watson's best friends on the team, said. "It's good to see him healthy and happy again, and I'm sure glad to see him on the ice today."

"It's awesome to be back around my teammates and just be contributing any way that I can," Watson said. "Right now, it's going out there and getting a good sweat with the guys, and tomorrow, it's whatever I'm asked to do."

Of course, the Predators would like to eventually have Watson back in the lineup with the postseason approaching. The intangibles he can provide to the club are well known, but taking hockey away from the equation for a moment, the first concern was always about Watson's well-being.

The family dynamic in Nashville holds strong, and the Preds weren't about to abandon one of their own during a time of need.

Watson expressed his gratitude for the franchise - and all of those within it - who have welcomed him back and given him the chance to find success in his life once more. Now that he has returned, that's exactly what he plans on doing - one day at a time.

"As far as the organization goes, I'm extremely grateful," Watson said. "I don't want to sit here and get too emotional or anything like that, but I've had a lot of talks with Mr. Poile and Lavi, and they've always been there for me. Same as the guys, same as everybody on the staff, so to know that they're back there supporting me, Austin, the human being, it's special and I couldn't be any more grateful for them."