While Fisher is on injured reserve, certain Predators players will rotate time with the ‘A’ until he returns to the ice. Forward Paul Gaustad will begin the campaign wearing the second letter.



"It's an honor," Neal said of his new role. "Coming here and being able to go into a leadership role is something that I've always wanted to do and I put myself in that position. It's an exciting time and I can't wait to get going tonight."



"It's a good fit," Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of naming Neal an alternate captain. "I think training camp was a good chance for us to look internally at the locker room and see the leadership that we do have. We have excellent leaders already in place here and I think James really fits the bill. He brings a lot of successful experience to the table."

Acquired in June from Pittsburgh, Neal has potted 21 or more goals in each of his six NHL seasons. The 27-year-old forward enters the 2014-15 campaign ranked second in the League in power-play goals (38) and is tied for fifth in the NHL in goals (88) since the start of the 2011-12 season.