Huberdeau still stands as Florida's all-time leader in points (613), assists (415) and games played (671), while Weegar's 121 points are the eighth-most by a defenseman in franchise history.
"It's been good," Huberdeau said of coming back to town. "Tomorrow is probably going to be more emotional. With the guys, I feel like tomorrow is probably going to get to me a little bit."
Added Weegar: "I don't even know what the away locker room [at FLA Live Arena] looks like."
For Tkachuk, the chapter on his time with the Flames has already been closed.
"You have to move on," said Tkachuk, who recorded 152 goals and 230 assists over 431 games with Calgary. "I've got great memories there, but it'd be unfair to my teammates here, the fans, and this whole organization that put a lot into this trade to get me to not close that book yet."
Storylines aside, a big two points are also up for grabs.
Sitting at 9-7-1, the Panthers have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a 6-4 loss to Dallas on Thursday. Trailing the Stars 4-0 in the first period, the Panthers nearly clawed all the way back to tie the game in the third period, but had their comeback fall just short.
Aleksander Barkov missed the game due to a non-COVID illness, but Panthers coach Paul Maurice said on Friday that he's optimistic the team's superstar captain will take the ice against Calgary.
Stepping up as the team's top-line center in Barkov's absence, Sam Bennett matched a career high with three assists against the Stars. Also chipping in, Carter Verhaeghe scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season, while Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart also lit the lamp.
Recording a Gordie Howe hat trick, Tkachuk had a goal, an assist and a fight.
"What makes Matthew unique is that he can do all parts of the game," Maurice said. "He gets physically wound up and mentally wound up in the games. He can make great plays, but he's an intense young man. That's a great guy to have in your room."
Hitting the ground running during his first season in South Florida, Tkachuk has cracked the scoresheet in 12 of 15 games. Leading the Panthers in scoring, he's notched 22 points (six goals, 16) in that span, including a trio of three-point performances in his last seven games.
"It's unbelievable how quick I've been able to fit in with this group," Tkachuk said.
Owning a 7-7-2 record, the Flames have lost eight of their last 10 games. Opening up a six-game road trip, they suffered a 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday. With Andrei Vasilevskiy stopping 39 of 40 shots for the Lightning, Nazem Kadri scored the lone goal for the Flames.
In Calgary's net, Jacob Markstrom surrendered three goals on 23 shots.
"We were a little sluggish in the first period, Marky (Markstrom) made two or three really good saves," Flames head coach Darryl Sutter told CalgaryFlames.com. "I think we probably had enough opportunities to at least tie going into the third."
Off to a hot start, Kadri leads Calgary in goals (8) and points (15). Not far behind, Elias Lindholm is second in scoring with 14 points (six goals, eight assists), while Tyler Toffoli (six goals, seven assists) and Rasmus Andersson (one goal, 12 assists) are tied for third with 13 points each.
Huberdeau has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists), while Weegar has dished out four assists and ranks third on the Flames in average ice time per game with 21:42 per contest.
"Some familiarity and probably some homecomings and some conversations across enemy lines when they know each other so well," Maurice said of the highly-anticipated matchup. "Both teams are kind of grinding for wins right now. Once that puck drops, it'll be down to the teams and the game."
