Trio Of Former Blue Jackets Return to Columbus

The Carolina Hurricanes will have three players returning to face their former team tonight in Columbus as the Canes take on the Blue Jackets for the first time this season.

All three of Jack Roslovic, Eric Robinson and Spencer Martin played in Columbus for the Blue Jackets last season although only Roslovic hasn't yet had a game back at Nationwide Arena since.

Related: 'A Fresh Start... Sometimes That's What You Need': New Carolina Hurricane Jack Roslovic Blowing Away All Expectations

Roslovic, who's also a Columbus native, played four seasons for the Blue Jackets before he was dealt to the New York Rangers at last season's trade deadline.

Now, he's with the Hurricanes and tonight will be his first chance to play in his hometown since.

The 27 year old told Chip Alexander of News & Observer that:

"There are some emotions. I like being home, excited about it. I'll have family at the game, enjoy seeing some friends and will show the guys around the city a bit."

Roslovic is off to a tremendous start with the Hurricanes, with 11 goals in just 19 games.

That's more goals than either of his past two seasons.

He enters the contest against the Blue Jackets with goals in back-to-back games.

Robinson signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets out of college and played parts of six seasons with the club.

He totaled 38 goals and 82 points in 266 games and last year ended up being dealt to the Buffalo Sabres just seven games into the season.

This won't be Robinson's first trip back as he played in Nationwide Arena already last year with the Sabres, but I'm sure it will still be nice to return.

Robinson has had a good start to the year with five goals and 13 points in 19 games playing alongside Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas.

Martin, 29, played briefly in Columbus last season after getting claimed off of waivers from the Vancouver Canucks.

He appeared in 13 games before then getting claimed by Carolina where he did a good job in stemming the tide before Frederik Andersen could return to action.

He'll be backing up Pyotr Kochetkov tonight.

However, tonight will go far beyond just returning to an old team as this is also their first game back since the tragic passing of former teammate Johnny Gaudreau.

Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers spoke to both Robinson and Roslovic earlier today on the emotions of tonight's game:

“It’s gonna be hard," Robinson said. "It’s been a really hard time since it’s happened. I think of those boys everyday. I play with him in my heart and tonight’s no different.”

“Amazing, amazing guy," Roslovic said. "Amazing family. It’s just great what they’re doing here. He had such an impact on the cities in such a short time and just loved everything that he left behind and everything that he stood for.”

It will truly be an emotional night, especially for two players who were so close to Gaudreau.