Mike Fisher

Lore & Background

Fisher grew up playing hockey in the Peterborough Minor Hockey Association with the rep Minor Petes program. He was drafted from Jr. A Peterborough Petes by the Sudbury Wolves in the second round, 22nd overall, in the 1997 OHL Priority Draft. After putting up 49 points in 66 games in his first year with the Wolves, Fisher was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 1998 NHL entry draft. Returning to the OHL for one more season, Fisher recorded 106 points, fifth overall in league scoring. Fisher debuted with the Senators in 1999–2000 and recorded 9 points in an injury-shortened 32-game rookie season. He became known for his aggressive style of play and improved to 18 goals and 38 points in his fourth season in 2002–03. During the lock-out year of 2004–05, Fisher played overseas for EV Zug in the Swiss Nationalliga A. In 2005–06, he emerged with 22 goals and 44 points, helping the Senators to a first seed in the Eastern Conference. With a career-high plus-minus rating of +23, Fisher was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, finishing as second runner-up. The following season, he duplicated his goals total with 22 and improved to a personal best 26 assists and 48 points, despite a left knee injury. In the playoffs, he helped the Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, posting career playoff highs with 5 goals, 5 assists and 10 points in 20 games. With one year left on his contract heading into 2007–08, Fisher re-signed with the Senators to a five-year, $21 million contract extension and set a career-high 23 goals. He missed the playoffs after a knee-on-knee hit from Mark Bell. In 2008–09, he suffered another knee injury. On February 10, 2011, Fisher was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2011 first round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2012. He played his first game with the Predators on February 12, 2011, and registered an assist. He scored his first goal as a Predator on February 17 against the Canucks. Fisher won the 2012 NHL Foundation Player Award. On July 7, 2014, he ruptured his Achilles tendon during a training session. He finished the 2014–15 season with 19 goals and 39 points in 59 games. On June 26, 2015, he signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract extension. On December 1, 2015, he suffered a lower-body injury. On March 2, 2016, he played in his 1,000th game. On May 5, 2016, he scored in tri

In Their Own Story

The Scotiabank Place was a cauldron. Round Three, Game Five against Montreal, the building shaking with every puck drop. Fisher skated to the blue line, collected a pass with his back to the net, and without looking, threaded a pass through the slot that split two defenders. The goal went in, and the roar that followed was not a cheer so much as a release—a city exhaling a decade of near-misses. He did not celebrate wildly. He skated back to his own zone, set his stick down, and waited for the next face-off. That was Mike Fisher. That was always Mike Fisher. And in that quiet, the fans knew they had something rare: a player who made greatness look like work.

Reader's Guide

Fisher was a two-way centre known for his aggressive style and defensive play. He was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2005–06. He served as captain of the Nashville Predators from 2016 to 2017. He is married to American singer Carrie Underwood.

Did You Know?

• Fisher was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round, 44th overall, in the 1998 NHL entry draft.
• He was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2005–06.
• Fisher was named the sixth captain of the Nashville Predators on September 7, 2016.
• He scored in triple overtime in game four of the 2016 Western Conference Semi-finals.
• Fisher retired for a second time on May 12, 2018.