Post-NHL trade deadline: When players visit their former teams

Traded players returning to play against their former team — it’s kind of the sports' equivalent of not being able to avoid running into your ex at a house party. Try as you might, there’s literally no way to make it through the evening without at least one awkward or emotional interaction.

Hockey is certainly getting a heavy dose of that with the trade deadline having just passed. The topic du jour in that department is — surprise surprise — the return of Dion Phaneuf to Toronto for Saturday’s Maple Leafs-Senators contest. How emotional of a return will it be for the former captain? How will Toronto fans receive him? The questions go on.

Phaneuf isn’t the first player, or coach even, who had to make “the return” this season. Yet it’s still a turn of events that garners the viewing public’s fascination — when a player has to venture back to the barn he once called home.

Former Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, who was traded to the New York Rangers ahead of the deadline, explained the mental toll ahead of a trade:

“It's been more challenging than I thought it would be, but I'm doing my best," Staal told the Raleigh News & Observer. "Doing my best to contribute and try and help this team win and play hard. I have a family." 

"There's things you think about," Eric said. "My brother's playing here. There are a lot of different things you think about. You try not to worry about it too much, and play, and hopefully we can get on a little bit of a run here and go from there and let it sort itself out. We'll see what happens."

Staal then talked about the “bittersweet” departure from Carolina following the trade with the News & Observer:

“I started my career there, won a Stanley Cup there, a ton of memories that you’re leaving behind; but at the same time this is where I wanted to go, this is where I wanted to be…”

Will he still have that feeling when the Rangers visit PNC Arena on March 31? What is it like, exactly, for a player to face off against a former team right after a trade?

Forward Mike Brown gave some insight into that right after the deadline had past. On Monday, the San Jose Sharks placed the fourth-liner on waivers, and he was then picked up by the Montreal Canadiens — who just so happened to be on the road in San Jose that very day. So Brown flipped from the home dressing room to a stall in the visitors' quarters down the hall before getting mobbed by the Habs media circus. The Montreal Gazette reported the following day:

It was a bizarre day for Brown. After being placed on waivers, the Sharks told him to stay home and not report to the morning skate. So he sat at home hoping for the phone to ring while wondering if he still had a future in the NHL. 

The call came from [Habs GM Marc] Bergevin.

“I live three minutes from here, so I just got in the car and drove right over,” said Brown, who made it in time to take part in the Canadiens’ morning skate and was in the lineup for Monday night’s game against the Sharks, put on the fourth line with Michael McCarron and Torrey Mitchell.  

The Canadiens become Brown’s sixth team in the NHL — and his fourth in Canada — after stops in Vancouver, Anaheim, Toronto, Edmonton and San Jose. 

“It was a little weird,” he said about arriving at San Jose’s SAP Center Monday morning. “I pulled my car into the lot, parked in my same spot, and then instead of going to the left, I went to the right today. 

“For me, it’s actually kind of exciting. I guess I wouldn’t want it any other way. You get traded from a team and first thing you want to do is beat that team.”-

Just to note: The Sharks routed the Habs that night, 6-2.

So, does that “weird” feeling subside at all when there’s a larger time period to get acclimated to a new team?

As far as Phaneuf goes, the now-Senators defenseman reportedly insisted that his focus is on his current team. Ottawa teammate Zack Smith reportedly said of Phaneuf’s return: “I’m sure it will be a little strange for him, being the first time back in the building since he was traded.”

It’s also a bit unknown how the crowd will receive him in his first game back at Air Canada Centre. “I’m sure there will be a few energy bursts from the fans when he’s got the puck,” Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson reportedly told The Globe And Mail. “I think he’ll smile and enjoy the moment. It’s definitely a cool feeling when people are against you. It gives you a reason to bring your ‘A’ game.”

Just more prep for running into your ex at that house party, it seems.