O captain… not our captain!

Posted: 12:16 PM CDT Friday, Mar. 18, 2016 Last Modified: 12:30 PM CDT Friday, Mar. 18, 2016 | Updates

They'll be happy to see their former captain.

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They'll be happy to see their former captain.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/03/2016 (3542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ll be happy to see their former captain.

Until game time, that is.

That was the predominant message from the Winnipeg Jets this morning, preparing to face Andrew Ladd and the Chicago Blackhawks at the MTS Centre at 7 p.m.

Ladd, the Jets captain since the 2011 relocation until his trade on Feb. 25, will be playing his ninth game tonight since the deal.

“It’s different,” said Jets winger Blake Wheeler, Ladd’s former linemate here. The two connected on Thursday after the Hawks arrived in Winnipeg. “It still feels like he’s hurt or something and we’re expecting him back at any time.

“It’ll be a little different seeing him on the other side. It’s always good to get him on the ice and I’m sure there will some things said back and forth and it should be a fun night.”

Another of Ladd’s friends and former teammates, Dustin Byfuglien, was taking the business-like approach to the game.

“Same as facing Patrick Kane; another player we’ve got to go out and do our job against,” Byfuglien said, adding with a straight face: “All business. I can’t wait to shoot a puck at him and run him into the boards.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Andrew Ladd skates at the MTS Centre for the first time since being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. 6 — BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Andrew Ladd skates at the MTS Centre for the first time since being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. 6

“It is a little different but we’ve got a job to do. I want to play you, whack you and I’ll buy you a beer afterwards. You’ve got a job to do, go out and do it.”

The Jets, at 29-36-5 for 63 points, are last in the Central Division, 25 points behind third-place Chicago.

“I think these guys are more used to it than we all are because it happens and they stay in contact,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said about Ladd’s return. “He was such a well-liked guy in the room. They’ll be happy or him. Other than Buff saying he might take a run at him, everybody’s happy to see Andrew.

“The fans, I’m sure, will be appreciative when they have the opportunity to do that and then the game is going to take over.”

Today, defenceman Mark Stuart and wingers Joel Armia and Nikolaj Ehlers returned to practice, though all three were wearing orange non-contact jerseys.