Predators hire Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland to lead hockey operations

Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland was hired away by the Predators to lead their hockey operations as president and GM, the teams announced on Tuesday.

MacFarland, who won GM of the year in May, chatted with the Predators owner Bill Haslam on Monday after being granted permission to speak to the Central Division rival by the Avalanche, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported.

“We could not be more pleased that Chris has elected to join the Predators organization and lead our hockey operations group,” Haslam said in a statement. “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.”

Meanwhile, the Avalanche said Joe Sakic will resume GM duties “for the foreseeable future, including through this month’s draft and the start of the league year.”

Avalanche owner Josh Kroenke thanked MacFarland in a statement.

“Chris was instrumental in our success over the last decade and a key part of our 2022 Stanley Cup championship. This was an opportunity for him to take on a bigger role with the Predators while being closer to his family. We wish him and his family all the best in Nashville.”

MacFarland, the 56-year-old from the Bronx, N.Y., took over as Avalanche GM in July 2022 following the team’s Stanley Cup victory after Sakic was bumped up to president of hockey operations.

He led the team to the playoffs in every season since, including a Presidents’ Trophy run this season before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the West final, and spent 11 years with the organization in total.

Nashville has been in the market for a new hockey operations leader since GM Barry Trotz announced he was stepping down after the season in February.

“I know this is a proud organization with a solid track record of putting together teams that the fans of Smashville support wholeheartedly,” MacFarland said in a statement. “My goal here is to build a winner, working with Bill Haslam, Sean Henry and our hockey operations staff and players to put a team on the ice that will compete for the Stanley Cup. I am excited about our future.”

After a slow start this season, the Predators nearly rebounded to make the playoffs but wound up missing by four points. Nashville has not reached the post-season since 2024, despite signing pricey free-agent Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

The Predators had the lone remaining vacancy atop an NHL front office after the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs already made hires.