GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Veteran NHL defenseman Brad Norton was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Norton, 31, appeared in each of the Red Wings’ first six games this season as a forward before sustaining a shoulder injury at Anaheim on Oct. 18. After contributing one assist and 20 penalty minutes with the parent club, he shows 11 points (3-8—11) and 287 PIM in 124 career NHL contests with Detroit, Ottawa, Washington, Los Angeles and Florida.

Norton was set to become a Griffin last season after signing with Grand Rapids on Dec. 15, 2005, but he was claimed by Binghamton before clearing AHL waivers. He split the rest of the season between the AHL and NHL, logging four assists and 102 PIM in 36 games with Binghamton, and 31 PIM in seven contests with Ottawa. He subsequently signed with Detroit as a free agent on Aug. 8.

Prior to embarking on his first four AHL seasons with Hamilton (1998-01) and Hershey (2001-02), Norton helped the Detroit Vipers reach the IHL Turner Cup finals as a rookie in 1998. He represented the Bulldogs in the 2000 AHL All-Star Classic, two years before making his NHL debut with Florida on Jan. 21, 2002 against Montreal.

A ninth-round draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers in 1993, Norton made history on March 15, 2002 versus Buffalo. He skated with Pavel and Valeri Bure and older brother Jeff for Florida, marking the first time two different sets of brothers played for one NHL team since the 1994-95 season (Paul and Neal Broten and Derian and Kevin Hatcher of Dallas).

Norton could be available to make his Griffins debut on Tuesday when they visit the MTS Centre for an 8:30 p.m. EST start against the Manitoba Moose.