Watkins left the Coyotes as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with the New York Islanders on July 1, 2012.

[2] He spent the duration of the 2012–13 season with the Islanders AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, posting 30 points in 68 games.

[3] For the duration of his contract with the Capitals, Watkins was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears posting 27 points in 73 games of the 2013–14 season.

On July 27, 2014, Watkins signed his first European contract in agreeing to a one-year deal with Austrian club, the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL.

On June 18, 2015, Watkin left after one season with the Capitals, to sign a one-year contract with newly promoted Finnish club, KooKoo of the Liiga.