The Mississauga Steelheads added some veteran firepower to their lineup Thursday, acquiring forward Spencer Watson from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for two second-round picks, a third-round pick plus a conditional seventh-round pick.
The 20-year-old was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft. In 233 games spent with Kingston over the last four seasons Watson registered 119 goals and 129 assists for 248 points.
Watson is coming off a 43-goal, 89-point campaign but has not played a game in 2016-17 yet as he recovers from a wrist injury. He is expected to return sometime around Christmas.
“Spencer Watson is an experienced forward whose addition will bolster the Steelheads’ attack,” Steelheads general manager James Boyd said in a statement. “Spencer continues to progress from off-season surgery and we look forward to seeing him in a Steelheads uniform when he is 100 per cent ready to play.”
Watson was voted the best overage player in Sportsnet’s pre-season OHL coaches poll.
Mississauga currently sits fourth in the Central Division and could use Watson’s skill.
“He’s been out there, available for trade for a little while,” Boyd told Iain Colpitts of the Mississauga News. “We’ve had full reassurances that he’s going to be 100 per cent, so we’d rather make a deal now. He’s just what the doctor ordered as an older player to our team.”
