Preds Grant Wish, Sign Three-Year-Old Asher Collier to Contract

Three-year-old Asher Collier made franchise history Monday morning as the youngest free-agent the Nashville Predators have ever signed, in partnership with the Preds Foundation and Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee.
"I know you guys thought we were all done with the trade deadline being over, but we are not done, we've got our biggest signing left to go," Assistant General Manager Brian Poile said at Asher's signing. "He's going right on the first line - the JOFA line will now have another A added to it."
Collier, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and short bowel syndrome, has loved hockey and the Predators with all his heart since seeing the team sweep the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I've never seen anyone get so much joy out of hockey," Asher's dad Colby Collier said. "It's the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up, and we literally have to take his stick from him to even get him to go to bed. I've never seen a kid so passionate about anything."
As part of Collier's wish, the signee was presented with a bag full of hockey equipment and his very own Predators jersey. Then, Collier got to step out onto the ice and play with some of his hockey heroes before taking a new team photo.

"[Watching Asher sign his contract] was just a proud moment," Asher's mom Mandi Collier said. "I know this is something that he loves so much, so just watching the person that I love the most doing something that he loves the most is rewarding."
On March 24, Collier will celebrate his fourth birthday, and soon after will go to his eighth surgery consultation with his family.
"Overall he's doing really well," Mandi said. "He's come a long way. He works hard in therapy, he works hard to do everything he does."
For the players, having the opportunity to grant a wish and make a lasting, positive impact is always worthwhile.

"It's always very special and definitely brightens up our days big time, too," Preds center Ryan Johansen said. "You're not just putting your gear on and going out and practicing, you get to put smiles on a kid's face. So it's been fun getting to know him and having him in the team picture and seeing him cruising around having a fun day."

Preds forward Nick Bonino also spoke to the importance of giving back through the Preds Foundation.
"I've always said it's humbling to see the passion they have," Bonino said. "They're so excited to be here and what they deal with on a day-to-day basis is so far above what we do, so if it makes them happy, it always makes us happy."
As part of his two-day contract with the team, Collier will return to Bridgestone Arena for Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs where he will enjoy the contest with his family.
"It's just awesome - the Preds and what they do in the community," Colby said. "You couldn't ask for a better team to do this with. I'm just so happy for him, and I hope he has an absolute blast."