The Nashville Predators are set to announce today that long-time forward and franchise-icon Mike Fisher will become the team’s next captain, according to sources.
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“It is the right time for Mike to be the captain in our history”, Poile said in a release.
The Peterborough, Ont., native became the franchise’s second-ever NHL Award victor in 2012 when he was the recipient of the NHL Foundation Award, which recognizes a player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community. It’s the ideal fit.
The full press conference, with thoughts from Fisher, Poile and Laviolette, as well as Fisher sporting the “C” for the first time, can be seen below. Fisher has scored 20 or more goals and recorded 40 or more points in a season six times in his 16-year career.
Fisher is a veteran now and I think he’s capable of influencing the young players on the team is a really good way. “I don’t view this as a one-year captaincy”.
The Preds may be going through this same process this time next year.
He added, “In terms of the type of player that Mike is, he has played over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League, he comes to play every game, he is respected by his teammates, his coaches, his opponents, referees, and mike is the guy the players go to when they need something. For him to step into this role is a natural fit”.
In other Predators news, centre Paul Gaustad is retiring at the age of 34.
In 341 games with Nashville, Fisher has 91 goals and 195 points.
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Fisher had a stellar postseason for Nashville with five goals and a pair of assists in 14 playoff games.
