The NHL suspended Nashville Predators left wing Austin Watson for 27 games during the 2018-19 campaign because of "unacceptable off-ice conduct," per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.
Johnston noted Watson pleaded no contest to a domestic assault charge in July and shared NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's statement on the penalty:
"I have determined that Nashville player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner. Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held view that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct.