Predators Eyeing Currently-Employed Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland

The Nashville Predators have been taking their sweet time making a decision on a new general manager. Now, rumors have started spreading as to what may be leading to the delay.

First, a report emerged on the weekend from a Toronto Star writer, suggesting that there was a rumor spreading that the Preds were planning to poach current Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland and give him a shiny new title of VP of Hockey Operations.

If true, won't go over well in Toronto, lots of buzzing out there the @PredsNHL will name @Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland as their new VP hockey operations, a promotion over GM role he currently has... Could be interesting
— Jonah Sigel | Sports media + streaming (@yyzsportsmedia) May 23, 2026

On Monday, insider Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Preds may be waiting for the Colorado Avalanche's playoff run to be over in order to ask for permission to speak with MacFarland. (That run could be very close to being over, as they're now down a stunning 3-0 in their Conference Final to the Vegas Golden Knights).

The Friedge doesn't feel, however, that permission has been granted yet. In fact, he said, "There is no way that Colorado would even consider that request with the team still playing."

At the same time, Friedman called MacFarland a "logical" target for Nashville, based on what he's heard, and the Predators' endless wait to name a new GM.

That is one of the things I've been wondering about — if Nashville is waiting to talk to (MacFarland). I do believe it's possible that that's one of the reasons that the search has taken this long.
However, I do not believe it's a guarantee that he's going to Nashville or that he's leaving Colorado. But the length of the search definitely makes it look like the Predators are waiting to talk to someone, and he is a logical target.

Friedman went on to note that Nashville asked for permission to speak to the Carolina Hurricanes' top-flight GM Eric Tulsky earlier in the season, but were turned down (as you might expect.)

As for MacFarland, his contract is not up after this season, so the Predators would, indeed, have to ask for permission from Colorado to even talk to him.

In the end, this is nowhere near a done deal, as suggested in that weekend report.

"I don't believe this is anywhere near as far along as it's been suggested," said Friedman. "But do I think it's possible they will ask to talk to him when Colorado's season is over? Yes. But I think the idea that it's a done deal or he's 100% going there, I think that is way, way, way premature."

Barry Trotz announced way back in February that he would be stepping down as general manager of the Predators after the season. They've been looking for a new man since then, but while several other teams have filled their GM posts (New Jersey, Toronto, Vancouver), Nashville's is still there for the taking.