The Nashville Predators announced on Thursday that they have
named Mike Fisher as their seventh captain in team history.
Fisher replaces Shea Weber, who served as the captain in the
“Music City” for six seasons before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens for
P.K. Subban over the summer.
On the team’s website, Fisher said, “It is really special to be wearing the `C.’ There is no question it is
an honor, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to wear it for a great
organization, great people and a great team. I could not be happier, and I am
excited. I am looking forward to the season and it is going to be a fun challenge.”
The Predators acquired Fisher, on February 10, 2011 in
exchange for two draft picks from the Ottawa Senators. He has served as an
alternate captain for the past four seasons.
In 1,016 National Hockey League games, he has scored 258
goals and 285 assists. He added 23 goals and 24 assists through 114 Stanley Cup
Playoff games.
Predators general manager, David Poile said, “It is the right time for Mike to be the [seventh]
captain in our history. In my mind, I feel he could have easily been the
captain, many times in his career, but this is his time; it is the perfect fit.”
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.
Whether it be some advice of what to do on the ice, and equally, if not more
important, some advice of what to do off of the ice. This is a perfect fit for
our franchise today.”
Fisher has been involved in the community, ever since he
arrived in the “Music City,” six years ago. The work that he has done with Room
at the Inn, a Nashville organization dealing with the homeless, has been one of
the main contributions to his off of the ice work.
Predators head coach, Peter Laviolette said, “Mike Fisher is a perfect choice to be
captain of this team. For him to step into this role is a natural fit. When the
transactions happened this summer, in the back of my mind, I knew we has a guy
that could take over as captain of this team and do an excellent job at it. He
is really well respected by the players in the room, and by the coaches around
the league, so for me, it is a really easy transition for him to come in and
take over this team.”
Also announced by the Predators, was center, Paul Gaustad
has announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday. The 34-year-old forward scored
89 goals and 142 assists in 727 games between the Predators and the Buffalo
Sabres.
This past season, Gaustad, who Nashville acquired from the
Sabres in February of 2012, put up two goals and four assists in 63 games.
No comments:
Post a Comment