GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings, NHL affiliate of the Grand Rapids Griffins, on Friday announced the signing of right wing Kent McDonell (MAHK-dah-NEHL).

McDonell returns to the organization that selected him 181st overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. After being traded to Columbus on Aug. 14, 2000, he split the majority of the next four seasons between the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

McDonell made his NHL debut with Columbus on April 2, 2003. He posted three points (1-23) in 29 games with the Blue Jackets in 2003-04, while also contributing nearly a point per game for Syracuse. McDonell notched a career-high 48 points (17-3148) in 51 games for the Crunch that season, placing fourth on the team in scoring and bringing his four-year total with Syracuse to 123 points (52-71123) in 227 games.

During his rookie campaign of 2000-01, McDonell played 28 games for Griffins head coach Greg Ireland as a member of the ECHLs Dayton Bombers. The following season, he recorded his AHL-high of 18 goals to help Syracuse capture the Central Division title.