Mike Fisher Ends Retirement, Plans Return To Predators

NASHVILLE, TN -- Former Nashville Predators captain Mike Fisher is coming out of retirement, the team announced Wednesday, as the 37-year-old hit the ice ahead of a press conference at Bridgestone Arena.

Fisher, who spent 17 seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators and Predators before announcing his retirement after Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup final last summer, hopes to work out a contract and officially re-join the team before the league's Feb. 26 trade deadline.

Fisher did not offer a firm timetable for his return, but he will continue to skate and work-out on his own to get back into game shape, he said at the press conference, and joked he'd been staying in shape during his short retirement by chasing around his 3-year-old son Isaiah. He said his wife, country music megastar Carrie Underwood, said she wanted him to return to the ice and "she's usually right."

Fisher said he discussed his comeback with general manager David Poile, coach Peter Laviolette and his successor as captain, defenseman Roman Josi, before making a final decision this weekend.

Though he joked he told Poile he wanted a three-year deal, but said he only intended to play out the rest of this season.

Fisher is Nashville's fifth-leading all-time goal scorer and in the 2016-17 season had 18 goals and 24 assists while serving as team captain.

Fisher played in two Stanley Cup Finals, one each for both his teams, but never won hockey's most coveted trophy.

AP Photo by Mark Humphrey