The Nashville Predators GM search continues, and there has been some speculation linking the current Colorado Avalanche GM
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Mile High Angst episode on the Nashville Predators GM search, and the speculation surrounding Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland, who is still under contract.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Kyle Bukauskas: “So we wait in Nashville. What’s going to happen there? Who’s going to be heading up their hockey ops? What the front office is going to look like moving forward. It’s been a long process there. You have mentioned on this podcast in the past that they seem to be possibly waiting on something. There was a report out there linking Chris MacFarland, the general manager of the Avalanche, to Nashville. What are you hearing on that front with the Preds and their search?
Buffalo Sabres Free Agents: Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, and Michael Kesselring
Friedman: “So, first of all, I do not believe there is an announcement imminent on Monday. Still, we wait. And so when that MacFarland thing came out, that is one of the things I’ve been wondering about. If Nashville is waiting to talk to him.
And I do believe it’s possible that that is one of the reasons that the search has taken this long. However, I would like to stress, I do not believe there’s any deal or agreement in place or anything close to it. I do not believe it is a guarantee that he’s going to Nashville or 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.
Now, you’ll remember that earlier in the year, when they began their search, they asked for permission to speak to the GM of the Hurricanes, Eric Tulsky, and they were rejected. There is no way, similarly, that Colorado would even consider that request with the team still playing. If it was made, and I don’t know that it’s been made, but even if it was made, there’s no way Colorado would say yes to it.
Also, from what I understand, Chris McFarland’s contract is not expiring. I don’t know the exact terms, but he is under contract beyond the season. So it’s not like he could just pack up and leave.
Could There be a Fit for the St. Louis Blue and San Jose Sharks with the No. 2 Pick?
I think it’s also important to know Colorado’s history with MacFarland. When Anaheim hired Pat Verbeek, the Ducks, during their search, asked for permission to talk to MacFarland, and he would have been a very legitimate contender there. At the time, Joe Sakic was still the GM. He spoke to MacFarland first, and he asked him, I went through my old notes, he asked him what he wanted to do.
And McFarland’s answer was, he would like to be a GM. He would prefer to be in Colorado, but if Sakic was unwilling to give up the spot, he would like the opportunity to try to do it somewhere else. Well, what Sakic did was, he denied permission and eventually promoted MacFarland to the GM. So, obviously the organization values him highly.
So, what I would say is that I don’t believe anything is done. I don’t believe that Colorado has allowed him to talk or would allow him to talk during this season. I think he’s still under contract, but I do believe that Nashville would potentially ask.
And the other thing here is, from what a couple of people, because this was this caused some buzz around the NHL. The other word on him is that, he’s not going to leave Colorado unless it was just like a huge step up. And you know, I just don’t know that that’s what Nashville would want to do.
So I think it’s just, the safest way to put it is, I don’t believe they have permission to talk to him. I don’t believe there’s any agreement in place. So I don’t believe this is anywhere near as far along as it’s been suggested.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Coaching Search and Auston Matthews
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 dealer, he’s 100% going there. I think that is way, way, way premature.”
We had to restart our X account. Please follow @MyNHLRumorsX
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.
If you love our reporting, choose NHLrumors.com as a preferred source on Google.
