Yesterday, MLive’s Ansar Khan filed an article which discussed Christian Fischer’s desire to provide more offensive “pop” to the Red Wings now that he’s looking forward to his second season in Detroit. This afternoon, the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan notes that Fischer is popular on the Red Wings team for his work ethic:
“He’s a very popular player on our team,” [Red Wings GM] Yzerman said. “He’s very versatile on the ice. You saw he played on that third line (with Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen). That was a good, effective checking line when Ras was healthy. He’s predominantly a winger, but we used him at center at times and he’s a good penalty killer. Ultimately we like his character and his personality and the role he’s going to play on our team.”
Fischer understands his role and embraces his responsibilities.
The checking line alongside Copp and Rasmussen was a valuable weapon to have for coach Derek Lalonde, as is Fischer’s versatility. Fischer’s role in the locker room is equally important.
“The guys love Christian,” Lalonde said during the season. “He plays the right way.”
Fischer understands what he brings to the lineup.
“I know what my duties are and my role on this team,” Fischer said. “That was big for me coming back. I really enjoyed my role with those two (Copp and Rasmussen) and even when I wasn’t with them. But with those two I thought I had some success, kind of hunkering down that bottom six and doing some things that all bottom-six players have to do. I look forward to taking another step in that and penalty killing and matchups and all this other stuff that I really embrace.”
Continued (paywall); Fischer does his job and does his job well, but there’s no doubt that he’s a bit of a bench/locker room guy as well. With David Perron moving on to Ottawa, the Wings are going to need as many “rah-rah” guys as they can get.
