Chris MacFarland was named president of hockey operations and general manager of the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, stepping into a role that had been held by Barry Trotz until his recent retirement.
Trotz, who announced his departure from the general manager’s desk but will stay on as an adviser until his contract expires, expressed gratitude for his time in Nashville while the organization looked ahead to fresh leadership.
A New Direction for Nashville
MacFarland, who spent the last four seasons steering the Colorado Avalanche’s front office, said he was excited to join the Predators family and eager to build a winning team alongside owner Bill Haslam and the club’s hockey operations staff.
During his tenure with the Avalanche, MacFarland guided the franchise to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his four years and helped capture the Presidents’ Trophy this season, a feat that underscored his ability to blend analytics with traditional scouting.
The Avalanche’s run ended with a sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, a result that left the team just four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild‑card spot in the West.
MacFarland’s departure from Colorado follows an 11‑year stint that helped reshape the club into a perennial contender and culminated in a Stanley Cup championship in 2022, when the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Before joining the Avalanche, he spent 16 years in hockey operations with the Columbus Blue Jackets, climbed the corporate ladder after a college playing career at Pace University, and began his professional journey as an NHL intern.
Joe Sakic, a Hall of Fame player who had been serving as the Avalanche’s interim GM, will resume the full‑time general manager role for the foreseeable future, ensuring continuity in the franchise’s hockey philosophy.
Bill Haslam, the Predators’ principal owner, voiced pleasure at the appointment, highlighting MacFarland’s proven track record and expressing confidence that the new leadership will steer the team toward sustained success.