NHL Central Division Captains, Ranked Worst To First

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May 9, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) against the San Jose Sharks in game six of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 7: Nashville’s Mike Fisher (nee Underwood)

Fisher is one of the three aforementioned new captains this offseason. And it was kind of an odd pick from the Preds. Sure, Fisher was an alternate captain under now-departed former captain Shea Weber. But does anyone really look at Fisher and think, “Now there’s a captain”?

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The guy is seemingly always hurt, and he’s definitely on the downside of his career. That doesn’t mean he’s a bum, but the 35-year-old’s 23 points in 70 games last season was his lowest non-lockout output since 2003-04.

There’s no doubt Fisher has a leadership component to his game, otherwise he wouldn’t have been wearing an “A” previously. He’s probably a great guy in the locker room, and he’s a veteran of more than 1,000 regular-season games.

But when you have options like Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban, I think you can do better than Fisher, who will hold the “C” for three or four years at most before a likely retirement. Granted, we should probably just be glad they didn’t give it to James Neal or Mike Ribeiro.

Next: Captain No. 6