Watt was drafted after his second junior season by his hometown team, the Calgary Flames (Cremona is approximately just 75 km outside of Calgary), in the fourth round, 111th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In 2008–09, he was initially assigned to the Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Quad City Flames, but was quickly reassigned to the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. On November 9, 2008, he recorded his first professional hat trick and added an assist for a four-point night against the Phoenix RoadRunners in a 6–2 win.[1] Watt was recalled, however, by the Quad City Flames on December 8, 2008.[2] He was suspended by the AHL late in the season for four games on February 24, 2009, after delivering a check to the head in a game against the San Antonio Rampage.[3]
On January 5, 2011, the Calgary Flames announced that J.D. Watt's contract has been terminated effective immediately. "J.D. notified us on Monday that he was no longer interested in pursuing his career with the Calgary Flames organization," "He informed us of his decision and as a result, he was then suspended and cleared unconditional waivers this morning. We are moving forward in the best interests of the hockey club, our players in Abbotsford and the Flames organization."
During the 2010–11 AHL season Watt played 27 games with the Abbotsford Heat, recording one goal and three assists for four points while accumulating 73 penalty minutes. On May 1, 2011, Watt left the Calgary Flames' organization.[4]
As a professional, Watt was known for his abrasive style of play as an agitator.[5] During his eight years of play in the Western Hockey League, American Hockey League, and ECHL, Watt was penalized for 117 fights. He joined the SAIT Trojans with the 2012–13 season,[6] and through his first season of ACAC play, which included 28 regular season games and 8 playoff contests, Watt was not involved in a single fight.[7]