NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – General manager David Poile and coach Peter Laviolette noticed how the Predators picked defenseman Roman Josi to drive a sword into the field before the NFL’s Tennessee Titans’ home opener with the NHL team serving an honorary role pregame.
Seeing what Josi’s teammates decided made selecting the Predators’ eighth captain in franchise history that much easier.
“Roman has played with and mentored under two of our best captains ever in Shea Weber and Mike Fisher,” Poile said Tuesday. “He was also always part of the leadership group when those two guys were captains.”
Josi, 27, replaces Fisher, who retired last month . The native of Bern becomes only the second player from Switzerland to be named a captain in the NHL. Mark Streit, named captain of the New York Islanders in 2011, was the first. Poile called Josi not only one of the NHL’s best defensemen but a terrific ambassador for hockey.
“Roman is our Roger Federer,” Poile said. “He’s a tremendous competitor. He’s always very classy.”