Dominik Kubalík returns to the United Center with the Detroit Red Wings after 3 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks

If you find you’ve become the enemy, it helps to have had a trial run.

As the Chicago Blackhawks prepared to host the Detroit Red Wings Friday night at the United Center, they welcomed back a familiar face: Dominik Kubalík.

The former Blackhawks forward returned to the building that had been home for three years, but he got a taste of what it’s like to be on the other side of the rivalry when the visiting Wings won an exhibition 3-0 on Oct. 1.

“I want to say it was a little weird, but it’s good I kind of went through it in the preseason,” Kubalík said.

“I knew how it’s going to be looking. But it’s obviously different in a preseason game, so I’m excited,” he said of the reception he was expecting from Hawks fans. “It’s going to be fun and hopefully I’m on the good side right now of the result.”

The forward spent his first three NHL seasons with the Hawks, starting with a 30-goal, 16-assist campaign in 2019-20. But he followed with 17 and 15 goals in successive seasons, and his fate seemed sealed when the Hawks announced a rebuild last season.

The Hawks opted not to re-sign Kubalík or fellow restricted free agent Dylan Strome this summer, but Detroit came calling with a two-year, $5 million contract.

Kubalík went from a rebuild to a potential playoff contender in the view of hockey pundits. Detroit also loaded up by signing Ben Chiarot, Andrew Copp and David Perron.

“That was the No. 1 thing for me when I talked to the Red Wings, that they’re trying to make another step forward. It’s a good sign,” Kubalík said. “I was really happy to be part of it. I’m just trying to do my best to help them.”

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde described Kubalík as a “shoot-first type guy, which I like.”

But Lalonde said Kubalík helps in other areas, such as chasing pucks and forechecking.

“The biggest thing about Dominik is he probably doesn’t get enough credit for how well he skates,” Lalonde said.

Patrick Kane said that when Kubalík was in Chicago he was “very effective.”

“Thirty goals his first year and not a full season. He was really a big bright spot for us,” he said.

Kane said he hasn’t talked much with Kubalík since last season but was looking forward to reconnecting Friday.

“He is a great guy,” Kane said. “It’s fun just talking to him about certain things, throughout practice and with the game and shooting the puck and things like that.

“He’s got such a good shot.”

Jonathan Toews was Kubalík’s linemate for a good portion of last season, and they’ve exchanged “a couple texts here and there.”

“Obviously when we played (the Red Wings) in the preseason, you give him the old tap on the shinpads and see how he’s doing,” Toews joked. “(He’s) one of those guys I enjoyed playing with over the years, just put it on his tape and it was in the back of the net more often than not.

“So definitely enjoyed that bond we had on the ice and (we’ll) try to shut him down tonight and not give him too much.”