Colorado Avalanche
Predators Snag Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland with Huge Offer
Chris MacFarland was granted permission to interview with the Nashville Predators. Will the Colorado Avalanche GM jump ship?
Update: The Nashville Predators have hired Chris MacFarland as the team’s President of Hockey Operations and GM. They confirmed the signing on Tuesday, just hours after it was revealed the Colorado Avalanche had granted permission for an interview.
Prior to the team making it official, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun noted, “The Predators are expected to announce the hiring of Chris MacFarland today.” Elliotte Friedman adds, “The Nashville Predators are closing in with Chris MacFarland to be the organization’s new President of Hockey Operations & GM. It’s going to get done.”
In other words, Chris MacFarland is being hired by the Nashville Predators and receiving a nice promotion.
“We could not be more pleased that Chris has elected to join the Predators organization and lead our hockey operations group,” said Majority Owner Bill Haslam. “We conducted an exhaustive search and were able to meet with several very qualified and impressive candidates, but all along, we were hopeful to interview Chris. He turned out to be a perfect fit for us – just what we were looking for to lead our organization moving forward.”
The Predators thanked the Avalanche for allowing the interview and encouraging MacFarland explore the opportunity to accept a promotion. The Avalanche have confirmed that Joe Sakic will resume GM duties ahead of Draft and into free agency and start of the League Year (July 1).
“My wife Chandra and I, together with our children, are grateful to Bill and Crissy Haslam and the entire Nashville Predators family for this opportunity,” MacFarland said. “We also thank everyone at the Avalanche, including Joe Sakic and the Kroenke family, for their support in pursuing this position with the Predators; I believe Nashville will be a great fit for me.
Both Elliotte Friedman and Pierre LeBrun are reporting that, according to several sources, the Nashville Predators have permission to talk to Colorado GM Chris MacFarland. Both add that the title and what job is offered to him remain unclear. What Friedman did say was: “MacFarland met face-to-face last night with owner Bill Haslam and the goal is for the Predators to close this quickly. They know they will have to hand the keys to MacFarland and are prepared to do it. Stay tuned.”
Friedman explains that a lateral move is unlikely to result in MacFarland jumping from a Stanley Cup contender to a franchise that has struggled to make the playoffs. It would take a significant promotion and pay bump to entice him to leave a comfortable position. At the same time, the chances of internal growth in Colorado is low, given that Joe Sakic is secure as President of the Avalanche.
MacFarland joined the Avs in 2015-16, then became GM shortly after the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory. It was a move by the Avalanche to keep him rather than allow him to interview for Anaheim’s then-vacant GM position, which eventually hired Pat Verbeek. This time around, it looks as though the Avalanche won’t stand in his way if a better opportunity is presented to him.
Is this about MacFarland getting a new opportunity? Or, are the Avs considering making changes after a disappointing exit from this season’s playoffs? There’s been talk of a shake-up, including the removal of head coach Jared Bednar. One has to wonder whether Joe Sakic was or is considering taking a more hands-on approach to the roster.
If MacFarland is hired, it will be intriguing to see how Colorado reacts.
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