The Nashville Predators are Stanley Cup Final bound in large part due to their tremendous blue line and stellar netminder Pekka Rinne. Another major contributing factor, however, has been strong performances from a number of unheralded players.
One of those players has been fourth-liner Austin Watson. If you’ve watched any Coach’s Corner this post-season you’ve undoubtedly heard Don Cherry boast about the former Peterborough Petes and London Knights star.
“Folks, this guy is a force,” Cherry, who coached Watson during the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game, said Tuesday. “Four goals [in 16 games] and he plays it tough. He is a guy to come out of nowhere. I said when he was playing junior that he would make the National Hockey League. He is a tough dude. He hits guys and he is ready.”
Cherry also gave kudos to Colton Sissons. The third-line centre has impressed with five goals and five assists through 16 post-season games.
Players like Watson and Sissons don’t get the shine that the Filip Forsbergs of the world do but they’ve provided valuable secondary scoring for the Preds.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final goes down May 29.
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