News Article: Austin Watson suspended indefinitely after alcohol-related relapse

[Armourboy]

I was hoping that the long break would be good for the team. Maybe too much off time wasn't what Austin needed.

Silence is when you can hear the demons the most.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Gutted for the family. Hope they can get the support they need. Their kid needs to have a a stable and safe environment to grow up in. Hockey is an irrelevant consideration at this point.

Just a friendly reminder everyone, the trolls and baiters will be out in full force. Use the report button.

 

[Soundgarden]

I'm just going to say I wish the best for him and his family. Addiction is no joke, please think about getting help if you or a loved one needs it.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

The thing that sucks is a lot of players like to get after it and rip it up when they're off but unless they're a documented alcoholic no one seems to care. It's just the way it is. Subban literally just had a video on youtube for NBC where he ordered and talked about getting cocktails at a bar in Franklin (he may not have actually drank anything but NBC showed the ingredients to what he ordered). Drinking is just a part of culture to many people, especially in hockey. When someone has a problem like this it's a very hard thing to manage.

Yeah, A LOT of players go hard in their off time, even today (it was of course even worse years ago). I imagine that Watson put himself under closer scrutiny than most players with the summer incident, however. He couldn't get away with what many others might.

Aside from it sucking for him and his family, as everybody has pointed out already, it does also suck for the team, because he was playing pretty well and I was pleasantly surprised at how effective he had been despite the long suspension layoff and everything. He's definitely a player we needed for the playoffs.

 

[Enjoy i24 Traffic]

Putting Ribiero and Watson in the same sentence is disingenuous. While Watson may have made mistakes, Ribiero seems like a legit scumbag. Didn't they write the scuzzy Quebec player in Goon about Ribiero, allegedly?

 

[braindead]

Putting Ribiero and Watson in the same sentence is disingenuous. While Watson may have made mistakes, Ribiero seems like a legit *******. Didn't they write the scuzzy Quebec player in Goon about Ribiero, allegedly?

I don’t wish for either of them- or others- to live on the streets. Empathy and compassion aren’t earned, they are given.

 

[LCPreds]

I don't know if you're referring to my post but I didn't say I don't understand it. I just don't comprehend why it affects some people, like myself for example, more dangerously than most others. Or why certain substances are desired by some addicts whereas others aren't. It's just a weird thing.

Nope not really targeted at anything specific.

 

[hockey diva]

My heart aches for him and his family. I am a recovering alcoholic myself. Got sober while in college. I had to change my playmates and play places. Maybe hockey is not the place for him to be right now.

 

[Scoresberg]

Damn, that's not good to hear. All the best, Watty.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I hope he recovers

 

[Pred303]

such a shame for him. and honestly a serious blow to us.

 

[Legionnaire11]

I certainly hate this whole situation and what Watson has done to cause it. But holy smokes, the main board court of law is a cesspool.

 

[Drake744]

I certainly hate this whole situation and what Watson has done to cause it. But holy smokes, the main board court of law is a cesspool.

I have no idea why I even went in there

 

[Gh24]

Well, crap. All the best to him and all the people close to him.

I certainly hate this whole situation and what Watson has done to cause it. But holy smokes, the main board court of law is a cesspool.

Yeah I'm not going there....

 

[FFWRX]

Isn't Ribeiro a Junior hockey coach in Nashville?

He was. But I haven't heard any more about that. I know he was drawn to Nashville in the first place because Dumont still lives here and they're friends.

I'm pretty sure he is coaching the 18u Jr Preds, and I think he has a kid on the 13u Jr Preds.

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

From HFCanes we hope that Austin gets the help and support system he needs and can find is way back to the Preds healthy. Definitely will throw up a prayer for him.

 

[zhok]

Bad all around.

We had a playoff grit problem; now we really have one.

Hopefully a chance he can come back, but i'm sure unlikely.

 

[sparkle twin]

Feel bad for Austin and his family.

I hope Austin is able to come out of this clean and healthy and can get his life back on track to be able to take care of himself and his family.

 

[Scoresberg]

Any confirmation he's done for the year?

 

[triggrman]

Not going to get any statements

 

[PredsV82]

Any confirmation he's done for the year?

iirc Stage 2 involves a minimum of about 3 months before you can come back. Tootoo had his in the offseason I think.

You have to wonder if they require inpatient rehab.