Evan Rawal
By the time Chris MacFarland was officially named the GM of the Colorado Avalanche last summer, most of the work for the 2022-23 team was already completed.
A few days earlier, the team had acquired Alexandar Georgiev to be their starting goaltender. For all we know, MacFarland was really in charge at that time, but the transition wasn’t completed. Either way, it stands as Joe Sakic’s final move as GM. Just a week earlier, the organization had re-signed most of their important free agents.
Although MacFarland was the GM of the Avalanche last season, it’s fair to say that in many ways, it was still Sakic’s team. Most of the roster was brought in by the Avalanche legend, and signed to extensions under his watch.
Now, just a little over one year later, you can’t really say that anymore.
This is Chris MacFarland’s team now.
As of this moment, the forward group contains 5 players that were brought in by MacFarland just this summer. In addition to those new acquisitions, 3 other forwards were signed to contracts by MacFarland, including Nathan MacKinnon‘s monster 8-year, $100,800,000 extension.
We also know that there’s another spot open in the forward group. That could be filled by someone currently in the system, or by re-signing Ben Meyers, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if MacFarland patiently waits this summer and tries to snag a free agent whose market never materialized, much like he did with Evan Rodrigues last year.
On defense, there hasn’t been much to do. Why would you mess with arguably the best blueline in the NHL? He signed Bowen Byram to his extension earlier this month, and brought back Jack Johnson for another year, but for the most part, it’s not going to look all that different.
There is one massive decision laying at the feet of MacFarland, as Devon Toews is staring down unrestricted free agency next summer. Whether he signs Toews to an extension, lets him walk, or moves him for assets, that’s another roster decision that will be tied directly to the Avalanche GM.
And of course, we can’t forget the head coach. He signed Jared Bednar to an extension earlier this year, but really, that was a no-brainer.
With what I’ve seen from Avalanche fans, people have pretty mixed opinions on how MacFarland handled his first season as GM of the team.
You have one side that is unhappy he didn’t make a bigger splash at the deadline by acquiring an impact player. Instead, he added around the edges of the roster, and none of those additions made an impact when it mattered the most. That side feels the organization wasted a season in which all of Makar, MacKinnon, and Rantanen were in their prime.
Then, you have the other side of the fanbase. That group believes MacFarland did the right thing not wasting what limited assets the team had at the deadline on a squad that seemed cursed all year, as they were never truly healthy at any point in the season. They felt it was better to ride out the season, and make changes in the summer.
Both sides have valid arguments. I tend to lead towards the side that he did the right thing not going for it at the deadline, as it just didn’t seem like everything would come together for the Avalanche regardless of what he did, but I see where the other side is coming from. After all, the core of the team isn’t getting any younger.
Now, I don’t think he’ll get the benefit of the doubt from either side. He’s rebuilt the roster and put his stamp on it, especially up front.
Whatever happens, the successes or failures of the organization will now be tied to MacFarland. It’s up to the players to perform, but the majority of them were signed or acquired by the GM.
It’s his team now.