Red Wings put goaltender Joey MacDonald on waivers, will send him to AHL if he clears

Detroit Red Wings goalie Joey MacDonald blocks a shot against the Nashville Predators in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, March 10, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings have put goaltender Joey MacDonald on waivers.

If MacDonald is not claimed by noon EST Monday, the Red Wings plan to send him to play for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

He is 31-48-13 with a 3.04 goals-against average with Detroit, Toronto, the New York Islanders and Boston. MacDonald has been cleared to play after being out with a back injury. He has become expendable in Detroit as a backup behind Jimmy Howard because of veteran reserve Jonas Gustavsson and rookie Petr Mrazek.

Gustavsson has been out with a groin injury. Mrazek beat the St. Louis Blues last week in his NHL debut.