NASHVILLE , Tenn. – With the NHL trade deadline approaching fast, the Nashville Predators made arguable the biggest move thus far as they acquired Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators.
For Ottawa, it was the first sign of a dramatic rebuild. In return for Fisher, the Sens received a 1st round pick in this summer’s draft as well as a conditional pick in the 2012 draft and more deals seem likely in the Canadian capital. While Fisher’s preference was to stay in Ottawa, Senators GM Bryan Murray is clearly intent on completely retooling the franchise after a steady decline in the standings since their Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2007. Presently, the Senators sit 15th in the East and 29th overall.
While any returns in terms of actual NHL calibre players are likely to take a few seasons to come to fruit, with the 1st round pick Ottawa acquired likely to be a mid to low pick in this year’s draft, it does signal the intentions of the Sens management to completely rebuild the team from the ground up and start a new chapter in the team’s history.
For Nashville the trade is simple: the Predators gain some offensive talent who also knows his defensive responsibilities and should fit in well with their systems. Due to a series of injuries, Nashville has struggled at times to get consistent production from its forwards. With no one on the roster yet passing the 20 goal mark and only star defenseman Shea Weber and summer acquisition Sergei Kostitsyn passing 30 points, an extra boost up front is a welcome one down the stretch. Fisher has scored 20 goals or more four times and is on pace for another 20 goal season this year as well as being a strong forechecker and great competitor.
Fisher’s arrival also gives the Predators a more experienced center among their top six forwards, both in terms of regular season and play-off action. Off season signing Matthew Lombardi arrived in Tennessee after a strong 2009-10 campaign with Phoenix and was expected to lead the franchise but played just two games before he was sidelined with a concussion, leaving the Predators with a hole to fill. While youngster Colin Wilson has been solid, he is still only in his second season in the NHL and Fisher’s arrival gives the team a little more depth down the middle.
Some eyebrows were raised over Fisher’s $4.2m cap hit but the Predators are not short of cap space and are traditionally one of the most frugal teams in the NHL so the money side of things should not be an issue for the club. Nashville coach Barry Trotz described Fisher as “a good fit” and the deal does seem to be a smart move by an organization looking to keep moving forward a little more each season.
With a red hot goaltender in Pekka Rinne, a strong defensive unit led by Weber and Ryan Suter which has allowed just 130 goals (the best record in the Western conference, 3rd overall) and now the addition of Fisher to a capable forward group which also welcomes back veteran Steve Sullivan from injury this week, the Preds will be a tough proposition come play-off time
For Fisher, personally it’s hard to ignore a little of the cynicism which has accompanied this trade. Being married to country music superstar Carrie Underwood means a move to Nashville has naturally led to speculation about the real motives behind the deal. Regardless of what the gossip websites and more tongue-in-cheek views may be, it is hard to see the down side of this deal for the player even in light of his public declaration that he would like to stay in Ottawa.
He is now much closer to his wife, something I am sure we can all relate too, as well as joining a team currently 5th in the West and highly likely to be part of the post season. In both a personal and a hockey sense, it’s far from a bad move for the Peterborough, Ontario native.
As a result, Fisher may be the biggest winner in this deal. Despite enjoying his time in Ottawa, he is now on a team heading upwards rather than one which is rebuilding and will likely be among the basement boys for several years while it does so.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
Related
