Predators’ Mike Fisher Announces Retirement Again
Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher announced that he will be retiring from the NHL again, according to Predators’ communications coordinator Brooks Bratten. The veteran who retired last season after the Predators fell in the Stanley Cup Finals, returned to Nashville in January to take another shot at a cup run.
However, after failing to get out of the second round of the playoffs after a seven-game series loss to the Winnipeg Jets, Fisher said he’s done.
“This cow has been milked as much as it can. It’s bone dry,” said Fisher, according to Predators Radio Network’s Jeremy Gover.
The 37-year-old Fisher played 18 seasons in the NHL, putting up a 278 goals, 311 assists and 589 points in 1,104 regular season games. He scored two goals and two assists in 16 games after coming out of retirement this year, but scored just one goal in 12 playoff games this year, playing mostly on the fourth line.
Even if he hadn’t opted to retire, his future with the team was likely in doubt since the one-year, $1MM deal he signed on Feb. 26 will expire. The long-time Predator was in the middle of a team that is filled with young, quality forwards, which likely would have forced him out anyway.
While his playing career is over, Fisher left the door open for a potential future role with the Predators organization.
Several Nashville Predators Heading To IIHF World Championship
8:05pm: Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala will both also be journeying to Denmark to play for Switzerland, raising the total to seven Predators who will be in the tournament. The huge contingent of players just reiterates how talented the Nashville roster is, especially with others likely turning down offers.
4:15pm: After facing elimination at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets last night, several Nashville Predators players will be heading to the IIHF World Hockey Championship. We learned earlier today that Eeli Tolvanen would continue his whirlwind season with Team Finland, while Nick Bonino will join Team USA. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet also reports that Viktor Arvidsson, Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg will all join Sweden.
All four new additions will be huge for their respective countries, as the tournament heads towards the elimination rounds next week.
Bonino hasn’t represented the USA at the tournament since 2015 when he was still with the Vancouver Canucks. That year, he registered four points in 10 games en route to a bronze medal. He’ll join a team that just crushed Korea 13-1 to win their fifth-straight game to open the tournament. That’s a feat the team hasn’t accomplished since 1933, and one that bodes well for their chances in the medal round.
Ekholm and Forsberg have both appeared in the tournament on multiple occasions, but this will be Arvidsson’s first time around. The 25-year old winger last represented Sweden at a major international tournament in 2013, when he helped their World Junior squad to a silver medal. All three should increase Sweden’s odds of a medal tremendously, as three All-Star level talents from the NHL.
Eeli Tolvanen Headed To World Championships For Finland
Eeli Tolvanen must like flying. The 19-year old sniper has been added to the roster for Team Finland at the ongoing IIHF World Championships, just the latest chapter in an incredible season. Tolvanen played a full season in the KHL before signing and making his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, he also suited up for Finland at the World Juniors and Olympic Games.
Selected 30th-overall last June, Tolvanen has had quite the year. He broke several recorded for scoring in the KHL, and performed well at both previous international tournaments. Though he wasn’t able to make an impact in Nashville during their playoff run, he should carve out a full-time role there next year. Joining Finland at the World Championships, he has another chance to win an international medal before finishing his year.
The Predators will not be heading to the Western Conference finals this season after being knocked out by the Winnipeg Jets, but should contend for the Stanley Cup again next season. With players like Tolvanen and Dante Fabbro set to make an impact at the NHL level in the coming years, there doesn’t appear to be a lull coming in Nashville anytime soon.
Nashville Predators Sign Carl Persson
The Nashville Predators have dipped their toes back into the European free agent market, signing Carl Persson to a two-year entry-level contract. Persson is fresh off his first full season in the SHL, but will now be joining the Predators’ organization for the next chapter in his hockey career.
The 22-year old forward recorded 24 points in 52 games this season, a very good total for a rookie in the infamously low-scoring SHL. That total placed him third on his club team, and apparently did enough to impress the Predators. Standing 6’1″ 205-lbs, he’ll likely get a chance to keep scoring with the Milwaukee Admirals next year.
Nashville continues to add from the European ranks, bringing in Persson to a system that already added Filip Pyrochta just this week. GM David Poile knows the value of adding risk-free talent from the international market, as he flipped Victor Ejdsell earlier this year as part of the package to acquire Ryan Hartman. Though Persson isn’t quite as high profile of a prospect, he still adds value to the organization.
No Update On Mike Fisher's Injury Sustained On Monday
- Nashville center Mike Fisher left Monday’s game due to an undisclosed injury and Thomas Willis of the Predators’ team website notes (Twitter link) that there is still no update as to the nature of the injury or how long he’ll be out. The veteran left after playing less than three minutes in total which forced the Preds to go with 11 forwards for most of the game. If he’s unable to return, one of Miikka Salomaki or Ryan Hartman will likely draw back into the lineup.
NHL Announces Schedule For Conference Finals
Even though the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets still need to decide who is moving on to the next round, the NHL has released the schedule for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. It’ll all get kicked off on Friday night when the Washington Capitals travel to Tampa Bay to take on Steven Stamkos and the Lightning. The full schedule can be found below:
All times listed in CT
Eastern Conference Finals
Friday, May 11 – 7:00pm Washington @ Tampa Bay
Sunday, May 13 – 7:00pm Washington @ Tampa Bay
Tuesday, May 15 – 7:00pm Tampa Bay @ Washington
Thursday, May 17 – 7:00pm Tampa Bay @ Washington
Saturday, May 19 – 6:15pm Washington @ Tampa Bay*
Monday, May 21 – 7:00pm Tampa Bay @ Washington*
Wednesday, May 23 – 7:00pm Washington @ Tampa Bay*
Western Conference Finals
Saturday, May 12 – 6:00pm Vegas @ Nashville/Winnipeg
Monday, May 14 – 7:00pm Vegas @ Nashville/Winnipeg
Wednesday, May 16 – 8:00pm Nashville/Winnipeg @ Vegas
Friday, May 18 – 7:00pm Nashville/Winnipeg @ Vegas
Sunday, May 20 – 2:00pm Vegas @ Nashville/Winnipeg*
Tuesday, May 22 – 8:00pm Nashville/Winnipeg @ Vegas*
Thursday, May 24 – 7:00pm Vegas @ Nashville/Winnipeg*
*If necessary
Nashville Predators Sign Filip Pyrochta
The Nashville Predators have added another undrafted European free agent, signing defenseman Filip Pyrochta to a two-year entry-level contract. Pyrochta has spent the last two seasons in the Czech professional league, and is on the roster for the current IIHF World Championships.
Pyrochta is an odd case for an undrafted player, as it’s not like he was an unknown to teams in North America. Ranked #87th by Future Considerations for the 2014 draft, he had been a top performer for the Czechs at the U18 World Juniors for two consecutive years. After going undrafted the first time around, he came across anyway and joined the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres where he recorded 31 points as a rookie. Still, he wouldn’t be selected and eventually found his way back to the Czech Republic where he has success.
A prototypical puck-moving defenseman, Pyrochta may still have trouble adjusting to the North American game when he jumps to the AHL next season. The NHL could even be out of reach for him if he proves he can’t handle the grind of his defensive responsibilities. Still, at the very least the Predators have added more skill to their minor league system for relatively no risk. For a team that is already finding success at the highest level, moves like this only strengthen their organizational depth.
Snapshots: Torrey, Quinn, Predators
The hockey world is saddened today, as it learned of the passing of Bill Torrey. A legendary executive, Torrey was the architect of the New York Islanders dynasty and first GM of the Florida Panthers. Not only was he an outstanding general manager and president, but he was beloved by nearly the entire hockey community. A outpouring of grief has come from former players, media and executives, all sharing their favorite stories and memories.
At PHR, as with the rest of the hockey world, we extend our condolences to the Torrey family and friends. He was 83.
- David Quinn, coach of Boston University, has been rumored as a potential candidate for several NHL vacancies including that of the New York Rangers. Today, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that though he hasn’t told the Rangers, Quinn has indicated to friends that he’ll return to BU next season. Quinn is also set to coach Team USA at the World Juniors next year, something he obviously wouldn’t be able to do should he take an NHL job.
- The Nashville Predators look like they’ll shake up their lineup for Game 4, inserting Yannick Weber and Scott Hartnell. Adam Vingan of the Tennessean reports that Alexei Emelin and Kevin Fiala were both on the ice late doing extra work, and appear to be coming out for the matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. The Predators are down 2-1 in the series and need to find a way to steal a game in Winnipeg to even the series, or face elimination on home ice Saturday night.
Front Office Updates: O’Hearn, Minnesota GM Search, Nill
The Arizona Coyotes are moving on from a top executive. The team announced today that they would not renew the contract for Assistant GM Chris O’Hearn. O’Hearn had been with the Coyotes for eleven years and was in his third year as AGM. O’Hearn handled much of the legal and administrative operations for Arizona, such as contract negotiations, salary arbitration, and cap management. GM John Chayka will now have to find a replacement or delegate those duties to others in the front office.
- Perhaps O’Hearn can throw his hat in the ring for the Minnesota Wild GM job. Owner Craig Leipold is certainly expanding his search, adding two new names to the mix alongside Nashville Predators’ AGM Paul Fenton and Columbus Blue Jackets’ AGM Bill Zito. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Boston Bruins’ AGM John Ferguson Jr. interviewed for the position today, while New Jersey Devils’ AGM Tom Fitzgerald will make his case tomorrow. Ferguson Jr. was previously the GM and Vice President of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the mid-2000’s and has entered the potential-GM market in a big way this week, now connected with both Minnesota and the Carolina Hurricanes’ vacancy. Fitzgerald had already dropped out of the Hurricanes’ hunt, citing “bad timing”, but the timing appears to be right for a potential move to Minneapolis. The Wild now have four legitimate candidates for Leipold to choose from and he may not be done yet.
- Another job search is ongoing in Dallas, as GM Jim Nill has his hands full finding a new head coach. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Nill is considering at least ten different candidates to take over for Ken Hitchcock as the Stars’ new bench boss. That was in response to TSN’s Frank Servalli’s note that University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery is the newest addition to the list. Montgomery has been dominating college hockey over the last five years, leading the Pioneers to a NCAA Tournament berth each year and winning the National Championship last season. Montgomery has been a popular candidate the last couple of years and would be an excellent choice for Dallas.
Off-Season Retirement Watch List
Although the Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing with four excellent match-ups in the second round, as teams have been eliminated – and continue to be eliminated – from contention, players begin to make decisions about their futures. Knowing that they were not playoff-bound, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin announced their departure from the Vancouver Canucks and pro hockey before the end of the season. Former teammate Radim Vrbata made the same decision days later. The Blackhawks’ Patrick Sharp announced that he was moving on, after a return to Chicago didn’t go as planned. Then, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin then got the off-season retirement party started last week, officially calling it a career. Meanwhile, for the third straight summer, Matt Cullen will be contemplating his hockey mortality. Who could be next?
Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla: Let’s start with the easy ones – a Calgary Flames legend and a legend whose career likely ended with the Calgary Flames. Jagr and Iginla were both pushing hard for a final chance at the NHL last summer and both players continued their searches into the regular season. Jagr finally landed a deal with the Flames in October, but health issues and a lack of productions made for a poor tenure in Calgary. Jagr recorded just seven points in 22 games before heading back to his native Czech Republic in January. Iginla opted to undergo surgery in the fall, but was back skating in February and hoping to sign on with a team for the stretch run and postseason. However, no such offer came. These two have been a couple of the biggest names in hockey since the 1990’s and are surefire Hall of Famers, but there is little doubt that their NHL playing days are behind them. Expect official announcements this summer.
Brian Gionta: Gionta is in a similar spot. Unable to find a contract last off-season, Gionta worked out and skated with the AHL’s Rochester Americans ahead of his appearance with Team USA at Winter Olympics. It was a less-than-spectacular showing by the veteran, but he still managed to turn it into a late-season contract with the Boston Bruins. Gionta posted seven points in 20 games with the Bruins in the final months of the regular season, but has yet to see any playoff action, despite ample opportunity given injuries to multiple Boston players heading into and during Round One. Gionta’s play with the Bruins has not exactly harked back to his prime, but nevertheless has shown effort and intelligence. He may have earned another look next season, but it’s more likely than not that this current run with Boston will be the curtain call for Gionta.
Chris Kelly: Kelly also played at the Winter Games and signed on late like Gionta. However, both he and his team have not had similar success. Kelly saw just 12 games with the Anaheim Ducks after signing in February and only contributed two points to show for it. The Ducks were then swept out of the playoffs without Kelly having any say in the matter as a healthy scratch all season. Kelly surprised a lot of people when he played in all 82 games with the Ottawa Senators last season, but this short campaign has shown that the years of dependable play have caught up with him.
Mike Fisher: Will Fisher re-retire? Almost surely. No one can blame Fisher for not wanting to miss out on a possible Cup run by the Nashville Predators one season after coming so close, but Fisher’s presence on the team thus far has been more about leadership and morale than on-ice impact. Fisher had just four points in 16 games down the stretch while averaging just over twelve minutes of ice time and thus far in the postseason has been held scoreless in seven games while seeing barely eleven minutes of time. Fisher’s days as a legitimate player seem to clearly be over, but he could still make a difference for Nashville in these playoffs with the right opportunity.
Dominic Moore: There may be no other player in the game today who has thrived by being a hired gun like Moore. Throughout his career, the veteran center has been able to join a new team, adjust, and play a critical support role. So, when that pattern fell apart this year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it signaled the coming end to Moore’s career. Moore was common scratch for the Leafs and averaged only about ten minutes of ice time per night, but with twelve points in 50 games, he also didn’t make the most of his opportunities. If any player in the league can adapt to being 38-years-old and coming off a down season by finding the perfect fit for another go-round, it’s Moore, but don’t be surprised if he calls it quits instead.
Joel Ward: There’s no doubt that Ward would like to keep playing. A hard-nosed player and a consummate pro, Ward has been a reliable piece to every team he has been on. However, there is no looking past what by all accounts was the worst season of his career in 2017-18. Just twelve points in 52 games and less than twelve minutes of ice time per game shows just how small a role he played for the San Jose Sharks this year and that’s not even including the fact that the Sharks tried to trade him at the deadline and have yet to play him in the postseason. Ward’s time in San Jose is undeniably over, but that doesn’t mean another team can’t take a one-year flier on him. At this point, it seems unlikely though.
Dennis Seidenberg and Johnny Oduya: What else do these two 36-year-old, left-shot, physical defenders have in common? Their time has come. Seidenberg’s resurgence with the New York Islander was a great story last season, but he came back to earth in this campaign and was limited by injuries and inability to just 28 games and five points. Oduya has had back-to-back disappointing seasons like that, recording only 17 points in 104 games with four different teams across the past two seasons. Dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers at the deadline, Oduya did nothing, skating in just one regular season game and zero postseason games. Both of these men have been admirable NHLers, but it’s hard to see either continuing to play.
On the bubble: Jason Chimera, Antoine Vermette, and Kevin Bieksa, Anaheim Ducks; Josh Gorges, Buffalo Sabres; Matt Stajan, Calgary Flames; Lee Stempniak, Carolina Hurricanes; Ales Hemsky, Montreal Canadiens; Scottie Upshall, St. Louis Blues; Jussi Jokinen, Vancouver Canucks.