Chicago Blackhawks Cup Reunion: 4 Florida Panthers to Watch

The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Florida Panthers in the Sunshine State on Thursday night. Like earlier in the season against Winnipeg, the 'Hawks will be going up against some former teammates from the 2009-10 championship season.

Four, to be exact.

Panthers GM Dale Tallon has not hesitated to bring in some of the players that he acquired in building the Blackhawks in his tenure with Chicago. That means that we'll see some familiar faces in different sweaters.

First and foremost is tonight's contest. Florida is 6-4-1 on the year and are hoping to contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Here are four former 'Hawks of recent vintage and how they're doing down south.

Tomas Kopecky

Coming off a career-high season in the offensive zone, Kopecky priced himself out of Chicago. Tallon and his team's need to get off the salary cap floor proved to be a good fit, and the forward is making $3 million a season for the next four years.

Getting comparable minutes to the increased time he saw last season in Chicago, Kopecky has a goal and five assists on the season. He had a three-point game against Buffalo last week, but injured a knee late in Florida's shootout loss to the Jets on Monday.

His availability is in doubt for Thursday as he didn't skate in Tuesday's practice, but Kopecky could very well be facing old pal Marian Hossa on the ice.

Brian Campbell

The Panthers are fifth in the league in the power play so far, which can be attributed to the acquisition of Campbell on draft night.

Campbell's contract was ushered out of town in return for the little-used Rostislav Olesz. Soup has 11 assists in 11 games and is providing the leadership and skill sorely needed on Florida's blue line.

Nick Leddy has gotten off to a good start this year for the 'Hawks, but it will be interesting to see how Campbell fares Thursday, especially with Duncan Keith doubtful for the game with a hand injury.

Kris Versteeg

Versteeg returned to Tallon by way of Toronto and Philadelphia after the 'Hawks shed his salary in the summer of 2010.

The rapping winger is off to a hot start on Florida's top line. He is tied with Campbell for the club lead with 11 points. That includes five goals, also tied with tops on the team.

This will mark Vesteeg's first game against his former team mates, as he was traded to the Flyers before Chicago could faceoff with Toronto.

Jack Skille

Skille did skate in six games with the 'Hawks in the cup season of 2009-10 and was traded in February last season for Michael Frolik and Alexander Salak.

Skille's aversion to getting the puck in the net has followed him to Florida, as he is without a goal and has just one assist in his first 11 games. Tallon signed Skille to a two-year deal this summer, but he isn't getting the top-six minutes he got after the trade last season.

Skille was targeted by former 'Hawks Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien in Monday's game with Winnipeg. Ladd and Skille dropped the gloves. Will Skille tangle with any of his ex-Blackhawks teammates?

We will see how Skille and the other former 'Hawks fare Thursday night.