There will be a familiar face on the ice when the puck drops between the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings on Thursday for the first time this season.
Forward J.T. Compher will face his former team for the first time since signing with the Detroit Red Wings this past off-season. The 28-year-old departed the Colorado Avalanche when he hit free agency on July 1, 2023.
Compher said he looked forward to seeing some of his old teammates and said it was fun to catch up with a few when they got into town.
"Just a lot of great memories with those guys on the other side," Compher told Guerilla Sports reporter Jesse Montano. "The game is the game, just go out, and we're worried about chasing points and playoff race as are they. I'm sure after the first shift or two it'll be a little more normal."
While it will be tough for the Illinois native to play against his former team on his new home ice, it may be more difficult in two weeks when he has to do it back where he spent his first seven NHL seasons.
"It's been nice to get more comfortable here (Detroit) before having to go back and do that (play at Ball Arena)," Compher said. "I'm sure there will be some emotions going back. It'll be fun, be fun night also."
The top-six forward said the Red Wings presented him with many of the things he was looking for to move on in his career which is why he chose to sign a five-year deal worth $25.5 million.
"Awesome player for us, obviously part of our core group of guys that was able to win the Cup in 2022, so lots of really good memories. Glad to see him doing well in Detroit," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said.
Colorado is coming off a significant 3-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks and have now won three of their last four after a dismal three-point/six-game road trip.
The Red Wings have improved over the past few seasons since former franchise star Steve Yzerman joined the front office in 2019. They are 10 points behind the Avs and sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
Projected lineup
Two notable changes to the lineup against the Wings are the return of Logan O'Connor and Justus Annunen starting between the pipes.
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Zach Parise — Ryan Johansen — Artturi Lehkonen
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O'Connor
Andrew Cogliano — Fredrik Olofsson — Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Jack Johnson — Bowen Byram
Justus Annunen
Alexandar Georgiev
Puck drops at Little Caesars Arena at 5 p.m. MT. The teams face each other again at Ball Arena on March 6.