Lightning sign former first-rounder to PTO: potential replacement for Pat Maroon

But it appears that Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois has found a potential replacement in the enforcer department for the organization.

According to CapFriendly, the Lightning have signed former first-round pick Austin Watson to a professional try-out contract (PTO).

As with all PTO's, Watson will join the Lightning for training camp in September and appear in preseason games before they decide if they'll offer him a contract for the regular season or release him to become a free agent again. If Watson is able to make Tampa Bay's roster out of training camp, he'll more than likely be looking at a one-year deal at the league minimum of $775,000.

Watson, 31, has spent the last three seasons with another Atlantic Division team - the Ottawa Senators. During the 2022-23 campaign, the Ann Arbor, Michigan native appeared in 75 games where he put up 11 points (nine goals, two assists) and tied a career-high in penalty minutes with 123.

The Lightning are set to open their preseason schedule on September 26th against the Carolina Hurricanes, with training camp beginning roughly a week before.