Nashville Predators Appoint Chris MacFarland as President of Hockey Operations and GM

The Nashville Predators have made a significant move by hiring Chris MacFarland as their new president of hockey operations and general manager, successfully enticing him from their Central Division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche. MacFarland takes over from Barry Trotz, who announced his retirement on February 2 but will remain with the organization in an advisory capacity.

Predators majority owner Bill Haslam expressed enthusiasm about MacFarland’s appointment, noting that he was a key target throughout the search process. The Avalanche, where MacFarland spent 11 seasons, were recently eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals on May 26. “We conducted an exhaustive search and were able to meet with several very qualified and impressive candidates,” Haslam stated. “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.”

At 56 years old, MacFarland has a wealth of experience, having joined the Avalanche as assistant general manager in 2015. He became the general manager in 2022, succeeding Joe Sakic, who was promoted to president of hockey operations. Sakic is set to remain in the general manager role at least through the start of free agency.

During his tenure in Colorado, MacFarland played a pivotal role in constructing a formidable roster that features Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon and two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. He was instrumental in signing MacKinnon to an eight-year deal in 2022 and collaborated closely with Sakic during the team’s rebuilding phase, which included the drafting of Makar in 2017.

MacFarland also executed several impactful trades, notably sending Matt Duchene to Ottawa in 2018, which brought back three draft picks and defenseman Samuel Girard in a complex three-team deal. The Avalanche’s success over the past decade is clear; after finishing last in the league in 2017, they have made the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons and captured the Stanley Cup in 2022. This past season, they clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for having the best record in the league.

Before his time in Colorado, MacFarland spent 14 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets as director of hockey operations and assistant general manager. His extensive experience includes roles in scouting at both the professional and amateur levels, player contract negotiations, salary cap management, arbitration, and budget management.

A New York native, MacFarland played collegiate hockey at Pace University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1992 and a law degree in 1998. He began his career as an intern in the NHL’s New York office during the 1993-94 season and also worked in the league’s productions office.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.