Defenseman Jordan Gross inks a deal with the Trojans for their defensive line.
New Recruit for Chelyabinsk's "Traktor": Jordan Gross
Get ready for some top-tier defense, folks! Jordan Gross is joining forces with the Russian hockey powerhouse, the Chelyabinsk "Traktor" team. The ink is dry on a contract that'll keep him with the "black-and-whites" until the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
Gross is jumping ship from the Minsk "Dinamo," where he was a standout player. In the Belarusian club, he racked up the most points among defenders. The "Traktor" brass has confirmed the transfer.
The newcomer has some experience under his belt, having played in the NHL's premier league. Gross made his NHL debut with the "Arizona Coyotes" in the 2019/20 season. Afterward, he donned the colors of the "Colorado Avalanche," but spent the entire 2021/22 season with the AHL's "Colorado Eagles" farm team, where he had a breakout year with 70 games and 75 points.
After two seasons in the "Nashville Predators" system, Gross moved to the KHL and signed with Minsk "Dinamo" in the summer of 2024. During the 2024/25 season, Gross played 77 games for the Belarusian team, scoring 42 points with a "+17" rating. Among his peers, the defender ranked sixth in scoring during the regular season.
"Gross is no stranger to hockey intelligence, has a knack for moving the puck, and can excel both offensively and defensively," states Alexei Volkov, General Manager of the "Traktor" hockey club. "With his arrival, we've got a reliable pro ready to take on major challenges on our defense line."
Jordan Gross
- Born: May 9, 1995 (Maple Grove, USA)
- Position: Defender
- Tall: 178 cm (5'10"), Weigh: 86 kg (189 lbs)
- Citizenship: USA
- Teams: University of Notre Dame/NCAA (2014-2018), Tucson Roadrunners/AHL (2018-2020), Arizona Coyotes/NHL (2019-2021), Colorado Avalanche/NHL (2021/22), Colorado Eagles/NHL (2021/22), Nashville Predators/NHL (2022/23), Milwaukee Admirals/AHL (2022-2024), Dinamo Minsk (2024/25)*, and now, the Chelyabinsk "Traktor"!
Achievements: AHL Best Defenseman (2022), AHL Most Productive Defenseman (2022), AHL First All-Star Team (2022).
If you're curious about Gross's stats in the AHL and NHL, check out Hockey-Reference.com or EliteProspects.com. Just input his name, and you'll get a wealth of info at your fingertips!
Hey, while we're at it, here's a quick heads-up on some other hockey happenings. Zach Fucale bid goodbye to Chelyabinsk and headed to Minsk, joining forces with the former captain of the "black-and-whites," Vladimir Tkachev, who'll continue his career with "Siberia." The day prior, Traktor extended the contracts of assistant coaches Raphael Riche and Peter Skrabel in their coaching staff. Buckle up, hockey fans; it's going to be an exciting season!
I'm not sure if Jordan Gross has played hockey in the NHL since the last season he played for the Colorado Avalanche was in 2021/22, but he did have a breakout year in the AHL's Colorado Eagles farm team during that season.
With Jordan Gross joining the Chelyabinsk "Traktor" team, it remains to be seen if he will excel in sports like he did in hockey during his time with the AHL's Colorado Eagles and the NHL's Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.
