According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, the Nashville Predators are being patient in their general manager search and could be waiting to ask to converse with a top-tier candidate.
One target that Friedman said was logical for Nashville, based on the length of their search, is the current Colorado Avalanche GM, Chris MacFarland. Before this development, Friedman had joined Nashville’s radio show DMase, Vingan & Daunic on 102.5 The Game and said that the Predators are standing pat for someone who they’re waiting to speak with, whether it be a member of a front office under contract or someone who is running a team that remains in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Avalanche are now down three games to none in the Western Conference Finals to the Vegas Golden Knights, having lost 5-3 in a pivotal game three after leading 3-0 in the first period. According to Friedman, he said that MacFarland wouldn’t likely depart from Colorado unless it was a ‘huge step up’, adding that Nashville might not offer that. Although there isn’t an agreement near, he believes that the Predators would ask permission to talk to MacFarland in the event they’re eliminated.
MacFarland is one of three finalists voted in contention for the Jim Gregory award as the league’s best general manager. He has been with the Avalanche since the 2015-16 season, being promoted to general manager in Colorado after Joe Sakic was promoted to president of hockey operations shortly after the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory. The 56-year-old had previously been with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a director of hockey operations and assistant general manager from 2000 up until the 2014-15 season. He spent the final two years in Columbus as the GM of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate at the time.
Earlier this season, Nashville had asked to speak with Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky, but was turned down. If a request was made while the Avalanche are in season, that request wouldn’t likely be accepted. Colorado’s current GM, to Friedman’s understanding, doesn’t have an expiring contract at season’s end as well and believes the organization values him highly.
Toronto and Vancouver have already hired their general managers this offseason, leaving Nashville as the lone team without a man at the wheel to guide hockey operations. The Predators have been looking for their next general manager after it was announced mid-season that Barry Trotz was stepping down. Before that, Nashville had David Poile, who served as the team’s GM from 1997 to 2023.
Nashville finished sixth in the Central Division, missing the playoffs by four points this season. The person who steps in will begin their tenure with 12 draft picks in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft, starting with 10th overall and $28MM in cap space to work with this upcoming offseason. Free agents the Predators will need to assess include the likes of forwards Erik Haula, Tyson Jost, and defenseman Kevin Gravel, rounded out by restricted free agent Justin Barron.
Despite missing the postseason for the past two campaigns, whoever inherits this team has a mix of youth talent among veteran stars in Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros that can be supported in their quest back into the dance while still under contract. The salary cap rising to $104MM benefits everyone, but after the Predators inked Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Brady Skjei to major contracts, they need to capitalize on the window they have with these notable names.
Chris MacFarland wants out of Colorado, It’s been loudly whispered that Joe Sakic is a helicopter executive, And, Won’t let people do there job.