The numbers game appears to be working against defenseman Garrett Noonan once again. As first reported by Dakota Johnson of Sin Bin Cyclones Noonan will be returning to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).

This news comes after the Admirals loss last night which saw Noonan sit out as a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game. Patrick Mullen, who has missed the Admirals last eight-games due to a skate cut to his right hand that required thirteen stitches to repair, has been back practicing with the Admirals since Saturday and is possible to return this weekend. The Admirals already added defensive depth at the NHL Trade Deadline when the Nashville Predators acquired Corey Potter from the Arizona Coyotes organization. From the moment of his arrival it pushed Noonan out as a healthy scratch. Now he’s due back to the ECHL.

It is slightly unfortunate for Noonan that he hasn’t had a decent enough spell in the AHL to see if he could catch the same level of fire he’s bringing to the ECHL this season. With the Cyclones Noonan has produced 31 points (7 goals, 24 assists) in 40 games. He is the Cyclones best offensive defenseman this season. Sadly, his career numbers with the Admirals don’t match up with that: 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 57 AHL games.

I would love to see Noonan’s hot run in the ECHL continue on with the Cyclones and, hopefully, see him brought back as a restricted free agent this off-season with a spot in the AHL there for him. I could see Taylor Aronson‘s 2013-14 season being a great model of how Noonan could progress into the Admirals lineup. Still, there might be a fear that what the Predators thought they drafted in Noonan back in 2011 they received this past off-season with Trevor Murphy. It’s hard to tell where Noonan’s story is going to really go.

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