Russian hockey team Traktor has secured a deal with American defenseman Jordan Gross.
Hail the arrival of Jordan Gross, the stellar defenseman who's made a splash in the KHL after crossing the pond! This badass blueliner proved that the buzz around his return was spot-on. Winding up sixth in scoring among defensemen in the league and boasting an impressive plus-minus rating? That's the real deal, folks!
The powers-that-be of the Chelyabinsk club aren't shy about singing his praises, either. The club's General Manager, Alexei Volkov, said it himself: "With his arrival, Traktor's defense line gains an established master and a pro ready to take on some serious tasks."
Gross, a sprightly 30-year-old, is locked in with us until the end of the 2025/26 season. Last season saw his debut in the KHL with Minsk Dynamo. He played 77 games across the regular season and playoffs, racking up an impressive 42 points (7 goals + 35 assists).
Prior to his time with Dynamo, Gross spent a season with the Milwaukee Admirals and played 54 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring 23 points (6+17). His exceptional play earned him a spot with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche's farm team, where he snagged the Eddie Shore Award–the AHL's top honor given to the season's best defenseman[1]. Over the course of his league tenure, he's played 306 games, scoring 201 points (44 + 167) in total.
Gross has also flashed his talents in the National Hockey League (NHL), suiting up for 25 games across stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, and Nashville Predators, netting 7 points (3 + 4) in the process[1].
Traktor stomped their way to first place in the Eastern Conference standings during the 2024/25 KHL regular season. Although they fell short in the playoffs, losing to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in a grueling four-game series, Gross's addition to the team certainly bolstered their chances[1]. Buckle up, folks–there's more where that came from!
Prepared to witness a new era in Traktor's sports history, as Jordan Gross – the formidable defenseman - will bring his NHL experience to the KHL, having played for teams such as the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators. Now signed with Traktor until the 2025/26 season, Gross aims to bring some fresh hockey talent and bolster the team, possibly leading Traktor to championship victories in the near future.
