Predators sign 3-year-old with cerebral palsy, short bowel syndrome

NASHVILLE -- The newest member of the Nashville Predators can be found enjoying Sesame Street and eating chicken when he's not flying around with a hockey stick in his hands.

The Predators, in partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation and Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, signed 3-year-old Asher Collier to a contract Monday. Collier became the youngest person to sign with the Predators in team history.
"We've got our biggest signing," Predators assistant general manager Brian Poile said. "This is our biggest free agent signing, our youngest free agent signing. We're starting younger and younger as the Preds. We're really excited to have Asher here. One of the things we're going to do, you guys don't know, he's going right on the first line."

Collier has cerebral palsy and short bowel syndrome and is a huge Predators fan. Poile presented him with a bag full of hockey equipment, a Predators jersey, then Collier joined the Predators for their team photo Monday.
Collier will turn 4 on March 24, and he and his family will celebrate by joining Predators goalie Pekka Rinne on his walk from the locker room to the ice prior to their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, then taking in the game at Bridgestone Arena.