Nashville Predators P.K. Subban back after 16-game absence

The Nashville Predators activated defenseman P.K. Subban from injured reserve on Friday after he missed the previous 16 games with an upper-body injury.

Subban, 27, was expected to play in Friday night's game on the road against the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's just another step in the right direction," Subban told reporters Friday. "Every day that went by, I was just itching at the opportunity to get back in there and happy to be able to do that tonight."

Subban, who last played on Dec. 15, owns 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 29 games this season. He topped the Central Division in fan votes, becoming a captain for the NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 29.

To clear a roster spot, the Predators assigned defenseman Alexandre Carrier to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

Carrier, 20, made his NHL debut on Tuesday night at Vancouver. He fired one shot at Calgary on Thursday night in 9:58 of ice time.