Two More: Fischer 'Thrilled' to Sign Multi-Year Contract

A recent

General Manager Bill Armstrong emphasized the value of the forward who skates at 6'2", 214 pounds.
"Christian is a hard-working, power forward who is strong along the boards," Armstrong said. "He will add size and toughness to our forward group."
Fischer is one of the biggest bodies on the roster. He returned to the Valley three weeks ago to resume training. The tentative January 1 start date for the 2020-21 season is more than two months away, but Fischer wants to be ready.
"The better plan is to be more prepared rather than underprepared," he said. "I think we have 12-13 guys out here right now skating together and working out. So, I think that's big."
Size and strength are key components to Fischer's game, but he is focused this off-season on sharpening his skating and skills.

"My skating is the big thing for me," Fischer said. "That's when I feel my best, the most confident, is when I'm moving my feet and I can get a lot of space for myself.
"I've been doing a lot of work on the ice with my hands, passing and shooting," he added. "You can never be too good with that stuff. Obviously, those things are how you capitalize on possessions to score goals and create offense."
Fischer is not close friends with any of the Coyotes' recent free-agent acquisitions - John Hayden, Tyler Pitlick, Johan Larsson - but he is familiar with their playing styles.
"Pitlick and Hayden, those are two really hard-working complete game players," Fischer said, "which is really good for our team especially with the losses of (Brad) Richardson and (Carl) Soderberg. With Pitlick being a gritty, two-way guy and Hayden being bigger with a similar (style) to my game, I think that's big. As a forward group, it's about finding 12 forwards to have four complete lines."
Fischer scored six goals and registered nine points in 56 games during the 2019-20 season. He has 35 goals and 63 points in 213-career NHL games.

"I think I'm a very versatile guy in terms of my game," he said. "Anywhere I get put, I'm going to give it my all. That's what's gotten me to this point of my career. A lot of people hear the outside noise or change their game for whatever reason. I think whatever the case is for me, I'm going to work hard. (Even) if it comes down to sheer grit and sheer work and power. I think that's what's gotten me to be where I am today."
Fischer's presence in the locker room can rival his on-ice presence. He has been described as a prototypical team-first player and a personality who can drive culture.
"I think a lot of guys just draw toward energy," he said. "Just my personality type, I'm very loud and very outgoing, and I think that helps in terms of new guys coming in and whether the team is having a bad period or a good period. I think it's always just nice to have a guy that's always going to say something or bring some type of energy. I don't try to do anything different. I'm a very happy, go-forward guy. I think it's fun. I know a lot of the guys like that.
"Myself and Jason Demers -- I think the other 21 guys' ears might fall off just listening to us all the time. I think they get a kick out of it. It's fun. I've really enjoyed playing with these guys. Like I said, we're probably one of the tightest teams in the NHL, I'd like to say. It doesn't matter where I play or how much I play. I'm signed here for two more years to win with the Coyotes and hopefully do something special here. That's the biggest thing."
As for that t-shirt photo: "I found that picture last year," Fischer said, with a laugh. "My mom and dad sent me that photo through text on my birthday, and they couldn't believe it themselves. I couldn't believe it. For whatever reason, I don't remember it. I think I might have been seven or eight. I guess I was a Phoenix Coyotes fan back then. I don't really know how I got my hands on that shirt. But yeah, that's just ironic in every way, sense or form. That's pretty funny how everything kind of works out that way."

Lead Photo Credit: Bill Wippert - NHLI via Getty Images // Second Photo Credit: Jeff Vinnick - NHLI via Getty Images // Third Photo Credit: Andy Devlin - NHLI via Getty Images // Footer Photo Credit: Fischer family