I consider Good returning Lions if either:
1) He was fairly bad or just average, but then became very good when he returned, or
2) He was very good, and then continued to be very good when he returned.
And I consider Bad returning Lions if either:
1) He was rather bad, and continued to be bad when he returned, or
2) He was very good in his first stint, and then was rather bad or worse in his return.
If available, I will list the years of his first and second stints with the Lions, and explain why I feel he was good or bad upon his return. And in some cases, I will list a pair if I feel there are similarities in their situations.
LIST OF GOOD BC LIONS UPON HIS RETURN 
#1: Bob Ackles (54-86, 02-Death)
First and foremost, no doubt that Bob Ackles was a great contributer when he served as a water boy when the club was formed in 1954 and worked his way to general manager until he left for the NFL in 1986. He continued to be the best when he returned as Lions President and CEO in 2002 until his timely death.
#2: Sean Millington (91-97, 00-02)
In his first stint, Sean Millington was an all-star in 1993 and 1994 along with Most Outstanding Canadian in 1997 before leaving for stints in Winnipeg and Edmonton. Upon his return to the Lions in 2000, he continued to be an all-star and again won MOC on his way to finally redeem the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian that has cheated out of for the 1994 GC.
#3: Dave Ritchie (93-95, 05-07) and Bob O'Billovich (90-92, 03-07)
Dave Ritchie coached the Lions to the 1994 Grey Cup. But after another mediocre 3rd place finish in 1995 and his playoff luck was not on his side, his contract was not renewed. Upon his return as a defensive coordinator, he helped the Lions capture another Grey Cup in 2006. Bob O'Billovich was hired halfway in 1990 to try to rebuild the team. No help with Doug Flutie, the Lions had an exciting team but the departure of Doug Flutie the Lions had a horrible 3-15 season in 1992 and he was fired. Upon his return as director of player personnel, he managed his players well in rebuilding the Lions and contributed in the 2006 championship.
#4: Mike Cacic (57-58, 60-67)
After mediocre two seasons, Cacic won a secure position and was chosen as a western all-star three times from 1964-66, and an all-star in the 1964 championship team.
#5: Rocky Long DB (72-73, 75-77)
After two seasons, Long he joined the Detroit Wheels in the WFL. Upon his return, he was selected as a western all-star in his final year 1977.
#6: Rob Smith (81, 88-89, 93-94)
After two previous stints with the Lions, Smith was finally selected as an all-star in 1993 and a western all-star in 1994.
#7: Paul McCallum (93-94, 06-Present)
Previously hired in a support role, McCallum couldn't dethrone Passaglia. But after leaving in degrace in Saskatchewan, McCallum finally was accepted by the Lions organization with his 2006 GC MVC performance.
#8: Bret Anderson (97-04, 05-08, Present)
Good utility backup Anderson has retired twice, and both times have come back and served the Lions well.
#9: Steve Buratto (83, 00-02, 03-04)
This is probably the most debatable one. Buratto was the defensive coordinator in 1983 when the team appeared in the Grey Cup. After after taking the job of a receivers coach in 2000, he was given the full reigns when Greg Mohns retired, and promptly led the Lions to the most underrated 2000 championship. He was eventually fired after starting 1-5 in 2002, but returned again as offensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004 when the Lions improved.
#10: Lui Passaglia (76-88, 88-07)
You are probably confused as to why Passaglia is considered a returning Lion. Well, it's because at the start of the 1988 CFL season, because of the competition gap the Lions couldn't afford to resign him. So Passaglia went for a tryout for the Cleveland Browns. During that time, three kickers tried to replace him, Tony Martino, Roy Kurtz, Bernie Ruoff, but none of them were effective. Realizing how important Lui was, Joe Galat finally relented to resign him where he continued to serve the Lions well in 12.5 and two more Grey Cups. In his player retirement, he continued to serve as director of community relations where he won his fourth Grey Cup ring.
LIST OF BAD BC LIONS UPON HIS RETURN 
#1: Mervyn Fernandez (82-86, 94) and Jim Sandusky(84-87, 98)
The tradeoff and side effect for winning the most outstanding player is that one may hold them to the same standards now and forever. Upon his return return to the Lions in 1994, Fernandez was decent, but not decent enough as Ritchie and Tillman felt he was expendable and released him well before the playoffs. The same thing Sandusky upon his return in 1998.
#2: Joe Kapp (61-66, 90)
Leading the Lions to their first Grey Cup, self explanatory. But as general manager in 1990, the team was in total turmoil despite signing Doug Flutie who wasn't adjusted yet to the CFL. He was fired after 11 games.
#3: Joe Paopao (78-83, 90, 96)
Paopao was only a mediocre QB, and continued as a mediocre QB coming out of retirement in 1990 where he started more games. Continuing that streak, a mediocre coach as well with a 5-13 record in 1996.
#4: Jim Mills (86-93, 95) and Gerald Roper (82-89, 92)
Mills twice won Most Outstanding Lineman and won several more all-stars. Too bad he missed out on the 1994 GC when he played for Ottawa. He was no longer the same guy upon his return in 1995 as he was soon released. Roper was an all-star in 1998 before playing for three seasons in Ottawa, and was also no longer the same guy upon his return in 1992.
#5: Freddie Sims (85, 87)
Sims was a good temporary bandage replacing Keyvan Jenkins and played outstanding in the 1985 GC. But upon his return in 1987 he was released, and was cut for the 1988 team.
#6:Ed Vereb (56, 58-59, 61)
As a halfback, Vereb was a western all-star selection in his first year in 1956. He had two more stints as a Lion, but was never selected as an all-star again.
#7: Adam Rita (83-87, 97-98, 02)
Rita served well with the Lions as offensive coordinator, but never served well as coach in his three seasons as head coach, and resigned himself after 2002.
#8: Chris Skinner (90-91, 93)
Skinner had a bad reputation of fumbling the ball way too often, and still did that upon his return.
#9: Rickey Foggie (88-90, 02)
Foggie was always regulated as a backup, and it wasn't until he became an Argo did he get more playing time. He wasn't able to dethrone the older Damon Allen upon his return.
#10: Andre Francis (86-88, 92-93)
I really wonder why Francis is selected as part of the dream team. He was good in 86-88, but was never a western all-star and was part of the terrible defense teams of 1992 and 1993.
Now that I've listed produced this list, I say that right now there's at least three Lions that I'm placing them on fence as I cannot determine which group they would fall on.
1. Casey Printers (so far, group #1 but like Fernandez, will immediately held with high standards and expectations)
2. Jacques Chapdelaine (obviously, he gets criticized a lot. Is he better or not as a receivers coach than he was OC in 2006?)
3. JoJuan Armour (now, compared 2004-05?)
