Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson will play against the Florida Panthers, his former team, for the first time Saturday. Gudbranson played 309 games in five seasons with the Panthers before he was traded to the Canucks on May 25. "It's exciting," said Gudbranson, selected by Florida with No. 3 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. "Obviously that was the first game I looked for when the schedule came out. 'When am I going back?' I'm excited for tonight. It should be fun. I miss those guys, made a lot of really good friends on that team, a lot of lifelong friends on that team. I wish them all the best." Gudbranson's return to BB&T Center will feature a brief video tribute. "Erik was awesome," Panthers center Nick Bjugstad said. "We enjoyed his presence here. He's a great guy in the locker room, great friend, stuck up for guys on the ice. He was a good teammate to have here in Florida. … I'm sure we'll chirp each other a little bit and the guys will go at it a little bit and have a little fun with it. It'll be fun." Gudbranson is one of three former Panthers who will be in the Canucks lineup tonight, along with forward Jack Skille and goalie Jacob Markstrom, who is expected to start. The Canucks are 4-2-0 in their past six games. Forward Daniel Sedin is three assists from 600 in his NHL career.