REPORT: Predators eyeing Avalanche Chris MacFarland For President of Hockey Operations

It’s a serious upgrade and role change considering where the Predators are now with the state of their team. With many expiring contracts, veterans still living on their deals, and nine combined picks from Rounds 1 and 2 over the next three seasons, it’s a team that needs clarity on where the franchise is going, and it needs to start this summer.

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It fits in with plans the Predators often make this summer, as current General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Barry Trotz announced earlier this season that he would step down from both roles to retire.

Last season, the Predators began the process of finding the right candidate to replace Trotz. A plethora of names have been reported as those they want to talk to, including former New Jersey Devils GM and president Tom Fitzgerald, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Darren Yorke, and Edmonton Oilers assistant GM Bill Scott.

So the Predators are willing to talk to anyone they can get an accepted request from, but is the original report true? Are the Predators inclined to sign MacFarland from the Avalanche? Is there any other source that can support this?

It didn’t take long from Sportnet Elliotte Friedman reports 32 Thoughts: the podcast to help analyze and further develop the situation. The main point Friedman made is that the Predators are not allowed to talk to MacFarland at this point, and there is no deal he can sign once the season is over and immediately jump ship.

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As much as the Predators have him as a key figure in their job search, nothing is set in stone, even if Friedman says a “done deal” is “way, way, way premature.”

To date, aside from the two reports for Friedman and Sigel, there have been no other insider reports or announcements from the two organizations that have publicly stated that an interview request has taken place. Nothing is set in stone, and until a report or announcement is made, MacFarland’s position with the team is secure, although there isn’t much the team can do to keep him from leaving.

Management may prevent someone from requesting access to speak to them for management functions. When someone is under contract with the team, the team can hold them to their contractual obligations. Just look at what the Golden Knights do with Bruce Cassidy. Refusing to ask teams like the Edmonton Oilers and other teams in the conference to talk to him about hiring him as their next coach.

Make what you will of the reports; it all comes down to whether Nashville really wants MacFarland and whether he feels the same way about upgrading his position. If he does, there’s really nothing the Avalanche can do about it.

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If the team truly values ​​MacFarland, there is no higher title to give him. That would mean firing Sakic as President of Hockey Operations and giving MacFarland that title, but I doubt they’ll do that. She already made that move to retain both members after they won the Stanley Cup in 2022, which led to Sakic being named president of Hockey Operations and MacFarland being moved from assistant GM to GM.

Chris MacFarland bets everything on winning – and the avalanche is cashed in After a season-defining trade sparked outrage across the hockey world, Chris MacFarland and Jared Bednar ignored the noise, doubled down on their vision and somehow built the Colorado Avalanche into an even more dangerous Stanley Cup contender.

The only other factor is MacFarland’s loyalty to the franchise. Whether he would really leave a contending championship team he helped build for a rival division franchise on the brink of a complete rebuild. It would obviously be a great opportunity and a promotion that many could get if they were put in that situation, but would he leave so quickly after just being promoted a few years ago?

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Obviously, every Avalanche fan would love to see him and the team released a statement thanking the Predators for their interest while committing to the Avalanche for the future. Only time will tell if the reports turn out to be true and if more changes will come to the Colorado Avalanche this summer.

Avalanche need to flip the script if they want to bounce back against the Golden Knights Colorado’s trademark dominance in the third period is gone against Vegas. After falling into an 0-2 hole, the Avalanche must change the way they play if they want to even this series.