" In his usual low-key manner, Jay Bouwmeester isn't making much of his return.

Friday night will mark the Flames defenseman's first regular-season game against the Panthers, who picked him in the 2002 draft and were forced to trade him at the 2009 draft when it was inevitable he was going to leave.

"It's one game and we're not there for very long, so I don't foresee it being any big deal — from this end, anyway," Bouwmeester said by phone Tuesday from Calgary, Alberta, where he faced the Panthers in an exhibition in September.

This reunion was supposed to include former Panthers captain Olli Jokinen, traded to the Coyotes at the 2008 draft, but he was dealt again late Monday from the Flames to the Rangers.

So now it's just Bouwmeester, who of the two is more popular in the Panthers' dressing room and remains good friends with center Stephen Weiss and defenseman Bryan Allen. They've kept in contact, mostly by text.

Bouwmeester and Weiss are especially close. Bouwmeester was drafted a year after Weiss, and in the first few months of the 2002-03 season they lived together in a hotel near BankAtlantic Center until they were assured a permanent spot on the roster."