Ryan McDonagh returns for Predators

After staying up with the Nashville Predators on an emergency loan for more than two weeks, Jordan Gross has been returned to the AHL. The team recalled him when it sent Ryan McDonagh to injured reserve, and he played seven games since then.

With McDonagh returning Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks and Alexandre Carrier getting back in the lineup Monday night, Gross is no longer needed at the NHL level.

The 33-year-old McDonagh has been out since Dec. 2 after taking a puck to the face and is practicing with a full cage as he gets ready to return. The two-time Stanley Cup champion was averaging more than 20 minutes for the Predators when he went down, recording six assists in 23 games.

While he is no longer the two-way force who dominated for the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning in his prime, McDonagh is still a very capable defender who should only strengthen a Predators team coming off a statement win over the Edmonton Oilers Monday night.

Coincidentally, Gross actually scored his third NHL goal in that game, as three of the four tallies from Nashville were from the defense. The 27-year-old will likely be back up at some point, should the team face any further injuries from this point.