Aarif Deen
The Nashville Predators have been granted permission by the Colorado Avalanche to speak to general manager Chris MacFarland, according to NHL Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Elliotte Friedman.
MacFarland was promoted to general manager of the Avalanche in July 2022, shortly after Colorado won the Stanley Cup. At the time, the Anaheim Ducks were trying to pry the then-assistant GM from the Avs. But rather than letting him go, Joe Sakic, who was GM at the time, was promoted to President, allowing MacFarland an opportunity to take over the GM role.
Leaving the organization for a lateral move is unlikely. If the Predators were to land MacFarland to take over their hockey operations department, it would likely require some level of promotion in both title and pay. MacFarland reportedly has one year remaining on his contract with Colorado.
The Avs were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs last week after getting swept by the Vegas Golden Knights. They finished the regular season with the best record in the league and were 8-1 through two postseason rounds before that. Colorado has not yet held its season-ending press conference with Sakic and MacFarland.