It's Official: Chris MacFarland Makes Stunning Move to Nashville; Avalanche Name GM

The move came on like a hurricane for the former Avalanche GM. Chris MacFarland is officially the new President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Nashville Predators.

The #Preds have hired Chris MacFarland as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. MacFarland replaces Barry Trotz, who transitions into an advisory role within the organization --> https://t.co/xtx3UvgECj pic.twitter.com/uNCmveGLwS
— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) June 2, 2026

Former GM Barry Trotz will stay in Nashville, transitioning to an advisory role.

As for the Colorado Avalanche, they've announced that their President of Hockey Operations, Joe Sakic, will once again take on the role of GM for the "foreseeable future". It was Sakic who was the GM that orchestrated the Avs' Stanley Cup championship in 2022, with MacFarland as his assistant.

The #avs announce that Joe Sakic will resume the GM duties for the "foreseeable future" following Chris MacFarland's departure to Nashville.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 2, 2026

The Avalanche are coming off a shocking sweep out of the playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, after completing a dominant regular season that saw Colorado take the Presidents' Trophy.

One has to wonder, as insider Andy Strickland did just one week ago, if the rumors of MacFarland's impending departure were affecting the Avalanche on the ice, leading to their stunning exit. Strickland said that it was expected to be a $4M annual salary for MacFarland with the Predators.

The rumors have become reality, and MacFarland has released this statement:

#Preds President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland via release:

“My wife Chandra and I, together with our children, are grateful to Bill and Crissy Haslam and the entire Nashville Predators family for this opportunity. We also thank everyone at the… pic.twitter.com/Lxy8cYGgNP
— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) June 2, 2026

“My wife Chandra and I, together with our children, are grateful to Bill and Crissy Haslam and the entire Nashville Predators family for this opportunity. We also thank everyone at the Avalanche, including Joe Sakic and the Kroenke family, for their support in pursuing this position with the Predators; I believe Nashville will be a great fit for me. “I know this is a proud organization with a solid track record of putting together teams that the fans of Smashville support wholeheartedly. 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.”

Elliotte Friedman stated on The Fan Hockey Show Tuesday afternoon after the move became official, that MacFarland must have realized that as long as Sakic was there in Denver, he wouldn't be able to take the next big step up the ladder there to a POHO role, and the money that comes with it. He's done that now in Nashville.

"I don't think he's getting that in Colorado, as long as Sakic is there," said Friedman.