Brady Tkachuk, Carlson, Lee among new faces in new places for 2026-27 season

Many NHL players have changed teams either via free agency or trades -- including before the NHL Trade Deadline last season -- and will visit their former home as a visitor for the first time this season. NHL.com takes a look at some of the bigger names who have moved and when each will visit his former team (listed by date).

Radko Gudas, Florida Panthers at Anaheim Ducks, Oct. 4

The veteran -- and Ducks captain for the past two seasons -- was traded to the Panthers on June 29 after three seasons in Anaheim. Gudas had 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) in his tenure there to go along with 281 penalty minutes. The rugged defenseman led the Ducks with 420 blocked shots and 657 hits in that time. His return comes three games into the Panthers' season.

Vincent Trocheck, Utah Mammoth at New York Rangers, Oct. 4

Trocheck will play his former team in Utah's third game of the season when it visits MSG. The center had 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) in 67 games for the Rangers last season and will now be a big part of the Mammoth leadership group. In his four seasons in New York, Trocheck had at least 50 points in each, and was a big presence on both the power play and penalty kill. He also won more than 56.0 percent of his face-offs in each season.

Brady Tkachuk, Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators, Oct. 21

In one of the most surprising moves of the offseason, Tkachuk was traded on June 21 to the Panthers to team up with his brother Matthew. The No. 4 pick by Ottawa in the 2018 NHL Draft, Tkachuk had 463 points (213 goals, 250 assists) in 572 regular-season games, and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 playoff games for the Senators. The wing was also captain of the Senators for the past five seasons.

Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks, Oct. 25

The dynamic defenseman was traded to the Wild in December shortly into his eighth season since Vancouver drafted him No. 7 overall in 2018, but did not play at the Canucks after the trade and will do so twice this season, the first time coming in October. He is Vancouver's all-time leading scorer among defensemen (432), is first in assists (371) and sixth in goals (61). Hughes also won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman with them in 2023-24.

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings, Oct. 29

The 37-year-old, who ranks third in Blackhawks history in goals (446), and second in assists (779) and points (1,225), returned to Chicago after signing a two-year contract July 23. Kane spent 15 full seasons with them, winning the Stanley Cup three times, before being traded to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2023. He spent the past three seasons with the Red Wings, where he was still productive, including 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games last season.

Frederik Andersen, Edmonton Oilers at Carolina Hurricanes, Nov. 21

Andersen, who signed a one-year contract with the Oilers on July 1, will return to Carolina in November. He was exceptional in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (13-2, 1.89 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, three shutouts) before an injury sidelined him midway through the Cup Final that the Hurricanes eventually won. In five seasons with Carolina, he was 98-49-10 with a 2.45 GAA, .906 save percentage and nine shutouts, and 32-14 with a 2.07 GAA, .909 save percentage and five shutouts in 48 playoff games.

Jordan Kyrou, Washington Capitals at St. Louis Blues, Nov. 28

The three-time 30-goal scorer spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Blues before he was traded to the Capitals on June 23. Kyrou reached 70 points three times and had 378 points in 488 games with St. Louis. The forward's 168 goals in his time with the Blues led all players.

Mats Zuccarello, Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild, Dec. 22

A fan favorite during his seven seasons with the Wild, Zuccarello signed a one-year contract with the Kings on July 1. He was first in assists (271) and second in points (389) and power-play points (140) during his time in Minnesota. He also had 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 37 playoff games.

Boone Jenner, Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets, Dec. 31

The forward spent 13 seasons with the Blue Jackets, including the past five as captain before signing a four-year contract with Capitals on July 1. Jenner had 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 67 games last season, and had 421 points (212 goals, 209 assists) in 808 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets. The forward ranks first in their history in games and third in goals, assists and points. Prior to returning to Columbus, the Blue Jackets visit Washington five days earlier.

Darnell Nurse, San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers, Jan. 13

After spending more than a decade with the Oilers, Nurse was dealt to the San Jose Sharks on July 1. Among Edmonton defensemen, Nurse ranks fifth in points with 324 (88 goals, 236 assists) and is second in games (798). He is their all-time leader in blocked shots (1,467) and hits (1,692). He also helped the Oilers reach the Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, where they lost to the Panthers each time. Nurse and the Sharks will host the Oilers on Oct. 10, their fifth game of the season.

Mason McTavish, St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, Jan. 14

The forward was traded to St. Louis on June 26 after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Ducks. He had 181 points (77 goals, 104 assists) in 304 games and helped the Ducks advance to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018.

Anders Lee, Utah Mammoth at New York Islanders, Feb. 15

After 14 seasons with the Islanders, including eight as captain, Lee signed a three-year deal with the Mammoth on July 1. The forward ranks fifth in Islanders history in games (923), fourth in goals (308), and 10th in points (549) since being selected by New York in the sixth round (No. 152) of the 2009 NHL Draft. A nine-time scorer of 20 or more goals, Lee also had 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 46 playoff games for New York.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, March 6

Following seven seasons in Florida, including winning the Stanley Cup twice in three trips to the Final, Bobrovsky signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1. He was 32-15 with a 2.26 GAA, .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 47 playoff games during Cup wins in 2024 and 2025, and his 201 regular-season wins with the Panthers are second in team history behind Roberto Luongo (230).

Brendan Gallagher Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens, March 6

The longest-tenured player on the Canadiens, Gallagher was the heart and soul during his 14 seasons in Montreal before he was traded to the Canucks on June 29. The forward had 487 points (246 goals, 241 assists) in his 911 regular-season games, and 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 79 postseason games, helping Montreal reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, when it lost to the Lightning in five games.

Pavel Dorofeyev, New York Rangers at Vegas Golden Knights, March 13

The forward was traded to the Rangers on June 26 and signed a seven-year contract. He led the Golden Knights in goals each of the past two seasons, with a career-high 37 last season after he had 35 in 2024-25. He also led the team with 20 power-play goals and 30 power-play points last season on his way to a career-best 64 points in 82 games. Dorofeyev also had 12 goals in the playoffs to help Vegas advance to the Cup Final last season.

John Carlson, Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals, March 15

Carlson won't have to wait long to play his former team with the Capitals visiting the Lightning in their second game of the season. In a surprising trade, the defenseman was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks on March 5 after 17 seasons with the Capitals. Carlson then signed a two-year contract with the Lightning on July 1. Selected by Washington in the first round (No. 27) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Carlson is Washington's all-time leader among defensemen in goals (166), assists (605), points (771), power-play points (273) and games played (1,143) and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2018.

Alex Tuch, Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, March 18

The New York native spent five seasons in Buffalo after he was acquired in the Jack Eichel trade in 2021. Tuch, who signed an eight-year contract as part of a sign-and-trade on June 24, had at least 30 goals and 60 points in three of his past four seasons. He helped the Sabres end their 14-year playoff drought last season. Tuch will play the Sabres twice before his first game back in Buffalo.

Jacob Markstrom, Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils, April 4

The Panthers and Devils play three times this season, including twice in Florida before Markstrom will make his return to New Jersey. Traded to the Panthers on June 30, Markstrom spent two seasons with the Devils and had 49 wins and five shutouts but was plagued by injuries during his time there.