The acquisition of Mike Fisher has generated quite a bit of buzz and excitement.  What I can't understand is why.

And you thought the clamor for tickets to Saturday's game vs. the Avalanche was because of Peter Forsberg.

There hasn't been this much hype surrounding a player since Forsberg joined the Preds four years ago,  He was, and still is, the most famous player ever to play here.  The Predators gave up a lot to get him, knowing he would be a UFA at the end of the season, and he played well, but we all remember what happened.

Mike Fisher doesn't bring near the pedigree, and while the cost to acquire him is not the same as Forsberg, it is nonetheless quite exorbitant:  a first round draft pick this year, a 2nd or 3rd round pick next year, and a no-trade contract with a $4.2 million cap hit through 2013.  This must be a deal with an eye toward the future, with the contracts of Sullivan, Ward, Goc, Kostitsyn, Svatos, and Belak expiring at season's end.  But for the here and now,  how does this improve the team, and why is everyone so overjoyed?  Is it his goal scoring?  Not unless he pulls a Lee Stempniak.  Fisher has 14 goals in 55 games, on pace for about 20.  His playmaking?  Only 10 assists, on pace for about 15.  His defense?  What can he add to a defense 3rd in the league without him?  He adds depth?  Well, yeah, but with three or four forwards coming off the IR in the very near future, so could a call-up from Milwaukee.  His wife will come to more games?  Yeah, that must be it.

David Poile is very skilled at finding players under the radar who make significant contributions without breaking the bank.  However, his track record on the big money multi-year deals is not that great.  Chalk this one up to the latter.  Mike Fisher is another two-way player (where have we heard that before?), and we already have plenty of those, with much lower salaries.  If he can re-create his scoring touch from years past, great, but don't look for that in the Trotz system.  His best years are likely behind him.  Not an upgrade, just more of the same.