Predators sign center Fisher to two-year contract

NASHVILLE -- Veteran center Mike Fisher's plan all along was to re-sign with the Nashville Predators. It was just a matter of putting together a contract that worked for both sides.

Fisher signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract with the Predators on Friday, five days before he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He will make $4.8 million next season and $4 million in 2016-17, the Predators said.

Fisher finished the 2014-15 season with 19 goals and 39 points in 59 games.

"I'm happy to be here," Fisher said. "I'm thrilled that I'm going to be part of this great organization for a couple more years. No better place to be than here for me. I'm excited."

The feeling was mutual for Predators general manager David Poile.

"I think this is a step toward having him finish his career in Nashville," Poile told the Predators website. "I told Mike two years sounds good to me, and I certainly hope it goes longer than this because he means a lot to our team, on and off the ice."

Fisher has been with the Predators for five seasons since being traded from the Ottawa Senators in February 2011. The two-year contract will keep him in Nashville through the 2016-17 season.

"I think it was just a good fit," said Fisher, who is married to country music star Carrie Underwood. "I don't want to look too far down the road. I'm not 21 anymore, and we'll see what happens. I want to win in the next two years, and that's kind of my goal and that's what I want to help this team do. Then we'll see after that, but I'm happy to be here for the next two."

The Predators finished second in the Central Division in 2014-15 with 104 points and lost in the Western Conference First Round to the Chicago Blackhawks. Nashville has a young core returning next season, and Fisher is excited to be a part of leading that group again.

"I'm really excited with the strides we made last year and the progression of where we're headed, and the commitment from the owners and management to making this team the best we can is exciting for me," Fisher said. "It's such a hard deal to do and win, and obviously I've been at it for a long time and haven't been able to do it, but I see our situation as the best chance that I'll have here with our good, young core and guys getting better and being able to add players. I think we're going to have a great shot."