There was much speculation about who would be named captain of the Nashville Predators after Shea Weber — who held the position since 2010 — was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Would it be Roman Josi? An excellent player, but perhaps not quite seasoned enough. What about James Neal? Also reliable, but he’s been with the team only since 2014. The new captain needed to have the depth of a veteran plus the energy of a newbie with something to prove. So it surprised no one when the announcement was made in early September that Mike Fisher would fill Weber’s skates. Not only did Fisher celebrate his 1,000th NHL game last season (playing more than 300 of those with the Preds), but he also proved he could perform under pressure by scoring one of the most exciting goals in Smashville history. It was Game 4 in the series against the San Jose Sharks. Triple overtime. The game started on May 5, but the clock ticked on into May 6 — the crowd was tired and restless, the players clearly exhausted. Then, after more than 111 minutes of hockey, relief finally came — Fisher knocked a rebound into the net and tied the series 2-2. O Captain, my captain, rise up and hear the bells. MEGAN SELING
Best Nashville Predators Player
Mike Fisher
