"Ian White's eyes lit up at the news Daymond Langkow is nearing a possible return to the NHL.

Many people would be happy to see Langkow back playing for the Calgary Flames, and White is among those at the top of the list.

"I definitely would feel better if he starts playing," said Langkow's former Flames teammate, now a member of the San Jose Sharks, who'll host his old squad Wednesday night.

When Langkow suffered his horrific neck injury just over a year ago, it was a combination of being shoved from behind, which made him fall face first toward the ice just as White fired a shot from the point. Langkow saw the puck coming right at him and tucked in his head, and White's shot hit him in the spine.

"Forwards are usually yelling to keep the puck low and I tried to keep that one low and it rattles off him," White recalled.

The resulting injury, a fractured vertebra at the base of his neck, has forced Langkow to the sidelines ever since.

The veteran centre is practising fully with the team, and even accompanied the Flames on the current road trip. The team has no firm timetable on a return, but it's becoming a reality — a big change from a few months ago.

It was fresh news to White, who's twice changed teams this season.

"It's kinda been a little crazy, but I should have been following," White said. "That would be huge for him to come back. Even if he comes back, I still feel pretty bad about what happened."