Jon Garcia

The Tennessean

Mike Fisher's career has come to an end.

After 11 years for the Ottawa Senators and seven for the Nashville Predators, Fisher announced Thursday that he is stepping away from the National Hockey League.

The 37-year-old created plenty of memories throughout his time in the Music City, and his adoration by the people of Nashville is a testament to his hard work on the ice and his character off it.

Here are just a few of the moments that capture who he was during his time with the Predators.

► Read: Predators' Mike Fisher: Thanks, Nashville

Being named captain

The immediate aftermath of the Shea Weber for P.K. Subban trade was filled with plenty of "no way this just happened" reactions.

When the smoke finally cleared and the hand wringing over who the next captain was going to be, the conversation almost entirely started and ended with Fisher's name.

There was no question about his commitment to the team or his leadership skills in the locker room. But did the Predators want to put an aging player with one year left on his contract into the captaincy?

Ultimately, they did not hesitate to do so and it was the right decision. Despite the quick turnover in the leadership roll, Fisher provided valuable insight to a team that is trending young. That rang especially true as the Predators made their run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Now a new captain will be named, and whoever it will be will have an extra year's worth of experience and tutelage under Fisher to draw from.

► More: Predators' Mike fisher retires from NHL after 17 seasons

Fight with the Wild's Nate Prosser

There are two things that make this fight so astonishing.

The first is how visibly enraged the normally mild-mannered Peterborough, Ontario native is.

The second is how quick Fisher transforms into an ultimate fighting machine, throwing both fists in a manner more reminiscent of a Street Fighter II combo than a hockey fight.

Fisher garnered a reputation for being a tough-as-nails player, but he was never really a fighter. He'd maybe have a small scrap or two each season, but nothing out of the ordinary for a professional hockey player.

There was just something about this game. Recall this was also the same one where Shea Weber nearly consumed Matt Cooke's soul.

(Honorable mention to performing an amateur dental procedure on Kevin Bieksa in 2015.)

First goal with the Predators

Exactly a week after being traded from the Ottawa Senators, Fisher scored his first goal with his new club in a 3-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks.

It was the start of a new era.

Fisher was brought in to bolster a roster with mainstays like David Legwand, Martin Erat and Patric Hornqvist. He was exactly the type of player that former coach Barry Trotz loves — a gritty, two-way player — but with an offensive upside.

Eventually, all of those players would move on from the team, but Fisher remained to guide the influx of young talent that now power Nashville's core.

Surprising a young fan battling cancer

While this memory isn't old, it's a perfect encapsulation of what Fisher meant to the community.

Shortly after returning from a degrading loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup final, Fisher and Roman Josi visited 2-year-old Trip Phinney, who was battling cancer in hospice.

It's always inspiring to see athletes reach out to their fans, but it's another thing entirely to see them drive to a neighboring city right in the middle of their first championship series.

► Rexrode: What Mike Fisher's retirement means to the Predators

1,000th Game

Few players are fortunate enough to play in the National Hockey League. Even fewer are able to stick around for 1,000 games.

The Predators were lucky enough to honor Fisher when he achieved that milestone, and the celebration was fitting. With his family in attendance, the organization, players and fans paid tribute with gifts, plagues and a video montage from players and coaches past and present.

Everyone watching knew his career only had a few years left, so there was a strong sense of appreciation for both what had happened up to that point and what was left to come.

Ending the longest playoff game in Predators history

Mike Fisher. Overtime. San Jose Sharks.

Say those words to any Predators fan and they'll immediately conjure up vivid memories — as long as they were awake to see it.

11:12 into the third overtime of Game 4 of the 2016 Western Conference Semifinals against the Sharks, Fisher tucked a rebound behind Martin Jones. Bridgestone Arena went bananas, incredibly still full of fans despite being the wee hours of the morning.

At points the game felt as if it were never going to end, and images of a triple-overtime loss were still fresh in minds from the year before. The catharsis of that goal for fans and players alike could not just be heard, but felt, while watching the game.

It'll be the highlight synonymous with Fisher forever.

What are your favorite moments from Fisher's NHL career?