Poile doesn't want to see free agent Fisher leave Nashville

Over the next several weeks, Predators general manager David Poile will tackle his list of pending restricted and unrestricted free agents, which includes 11 members of the team's active roster.

In the case of forward Mike Fisher, Poile left little doubt that re-signing him is a priority.

"Mike Fisher, we would love to have him back," Poile said. "He represents so much to our team, both on and off the ice. ... He's a real leader. I truly feel that the best place for Mike is here in Nashville. As long as I'm the manager, he can play as long as he wants."

The feeling is mutual. Fisher viewed the Predators' success this season as the first step toward a bright future, one that he wants to be a part of.

"This group is still young and is only going to get better, and that really obviously excites me and what the future can hold here," Fisher said. "It's only going to get better."

A principal member of the Predators' leadership group, Fisher has been Nashville's highest-scoring forward since joining the team via trade from Ottawa in February 2011 with 172 points over that span. He had 19 goals and 39 points in 59 games this season.

His 2014-15 season was bookended by injuries, missing the first 21 games while recovering from offseason Achilles surgery and three playoff games with a nagging groin issue. But when healthy, Fisher is a proven 20-goal scorer and arguably Nashville's best two-way player.

Fisher is also active and established in the community. He and wife Carrie Underwood became parents in late February with the birth of their first child, Isaiah.

The Predators and Fisher's camp conversed throughout the season regarding a contract extension, particularly during the latter half. As of Monday, they hadn't spoken since Nashville was eliminated from the postseason, but the dialogue is expected to resume this week.

A extension similar to Fisher's current two-year, $8.4 million contract seems plausible. According to Fisher's agent, Todd Reynolds, the two sides aren't far off on the terms.

"That's the hope, for sure," Fisher said recently when asked about re-signing. "I love, obviously, this city and being here, part of this group. It's something that will have to be worked out here in the next little bit, but I'm pretty confident that something will get done and that I'll be back."

Reach Adam Vingan at 615-259-8023 and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

Predators' free agents

Restricted

•Taylor Beck ($550,000 salary in 2014-15)

•Gabriel Bourque ($825,000)

•Calle Jarnkrok ($790,000)

•Craig Smith ($2 million)

•Colin Wilson ($2.5 million)

Unrestricted

• Matt Cullen ($4 million)

• Mike Ribeiro ($1.05 million)

• Mike Fisher ($4.2 million)

• Mike Santorelli ($1.5 million)

• Cody Franson ($3.3 million)

• Anton Volchenkov ($1 million)