Wild center Sam Steel on Wednesday returns to Anaheim for the second time since the Ducks didn't make him a summertime qualifying offer and he was signed by the Wild.
His first visit came in early November, 10 days before he played between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello in a game against Carolina — and so much changed.
He goes back as the top-line center for a Wild team that has won its last five games and is third in the Central Division. The Ducks are last in the Pacific.
"It's definitely different than playing other teams," Steel said Tuesday. "I know most of the guys over there and they let me go, whatever. It's a little bit different, but I don't think it will be as weird as the very first time."
Now 24, Steel scored six goals in each of his first four NHL seasons in Anaheim. He has already scored that many goals with the Wild — and his seven assists include two in each of the last two games — and the season is only 31 games old.
The Wild signed him in late August to a low-risk, one-year $825,000 contract after Anaheim committed to other centers. Low maintenance and high character, Steel played with Matt Boldy and Frederick Gaudreau and others in preseason and the start of the regular season. He played a left wing, too.
"It was easy to see at first that he was a really good player," Gaudreau said. "Such high skills. Sees the game very well. Skates very well. Just a very complete player. He competes really hard, too. His growth is more that he got put in different opportunities, more ice time. He gained confidence with that. Now he has built on it every single day. His consistency has been really good.
"He's on it every day, He has a great part with our team. It's fun to have him here."