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Red Wings veteran sent down — is this the end of his NHL run?

This could be it for one longtime NHL player.

Detroit Red Wings enforcer Austin Watson was sent down to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET).

With the latest roster move, the organization sent a combined 528 games of NHL experience to the minors, giving the Grand Rapids Griffins an immediate boost of toughness and veteran stability. It also brings back a familiar face, as their former AHL All-Star returns to the lineup and adds a reliable presence to a group that could use it.