'It's Obviously A Special Place For Me': Brady Skjei Returns To Raleigh For First Time Since Offseason Exit

Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei will play in his first game back in Raleigh since his offseason departure.

Skjei, 30, signed a seven year, $49 million contract with the Nashville Predators this summer, but before that, was a big part of the Canes' core, playing in parts of five seasons (302 games) and registering 43 goals and 135 points.

"It was a ton of fun to see all the people in the rink," Skjei told the Nashville media this morning. "Some of the medical and training staff over there. Guys that are kind of behind the scenes. It was great to catch up with them and it was kind of like the same old. Say hi and hope everyone is doing well. It was a little strange being on the other side of it, but like I said, it's still a ton of fun to see all those people that you'd been with for the last four of five years. It was great to catch up with them."

"He's a special player," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Was for us and is for them. There are certain guys who come through your organization that do a little extra and they mean that much more for the way they played and how they handled themselves and he was one of them."

It was a tough offseason for the Hurricanes in terms of losing a few long-tenured veterans and Skjei was one of those.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to the comings and goings," Brind'Amour said. "It's just the nature of it. You invest a lot of time and energy and they do too with what you're trying to do and you appreciate that and you forge relationships that way and seeing guys come and go, that's the not good part of the business."

Nashville's season hasn't gone the way they'd expected, but Skjei is staying positive and doing his best to help the group as one of its veteran leader.

"He's taken on a leadership role, especially when we lost Roman [Josi]," said Nashville coach Andrew Brunette. "He's taken on a younger group back there and he's been a great leader. He's eating big minutes and he's played really well for us."

Skjei has nine goals and 25 points in 70 games with the Predators, averaging 21:43 per game. 

Now, he'll line up against his old teammates for the first time and Skjei joked this morning that although he was excited, he wasn't looking forward to battling in the corners against Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook.

"It's obviously a special place for me and my wife," Skjei said. "Had a ton of great years here and I know all of those guys really well. The whole team will be fun to play against."

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