Christian Fisher, the former Detroit Red Wings player, announced his retirement from the NHL at just 28 years old, expressing that he’s ready to start a “new chapter” in his life. Between 2023 and 2025, Fisher played 124 games for the Red Wings and took a moment to thank everyone who supported him throughout his NHL career.
“I’m very thankful to all the people I’ve met along the way. I didn’t get here alone,” Fisher told Max Bultmann of Athletic. “Looking back, I’m grateful for the entire journey and everything it involved.”
While with Detroit, Fisher primarily played in the bottom six forward roles and was a regular on the penalty kill. In the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 79 games, scoring five goals and assisting on 14 others. It was also his first NHL season in four years, during which he maintained a neutral plus/minus rating.
Fisher was originally picked 32nd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2015 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut at 19, also playing in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners. Over six seasons with the Coyotes, he reached a personal best of 13 goals in a season before signing a one-year contract with Detroit, later earning a one-year extension for the 2024-25 season.
However, Fisher’s second season in Detroit was less impressive, with just one goal and six assists in 45 games. Before the 2025 trade deadline, he was a healthy scratch in nearly half of the games and was eventually waived by Detroit on March 6th. He then played one game with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fisher concludes his NHL career with 62 goals and 75 assists over 523 games for the Coyotes, Red Wings, and Blue Jackets.
Fan Take: Fisher’s retirement at a young age highlights the intense physical and mental demands of professional hockey, reminding fans that even talented players sometimes need to move on for their well-being. His departure also creates opportunities for younger players to step up, potentially reshaping team dynamics and adding fresh energy to the league.
