Overview
- Chris MacFarland left the Colorado Avalanche to become the Nashville Predators’ president of hockey operations and general manager with expanded decision-making authority for the club.
- MacFarland quickly hired Hall of Famer Rob Blake as executive vice president of hockey operations to work across team development, drafting, free agency and player recruitment.
- Assistant general manager and director of hockey operations Brian Poile announced his departure after nearly 16 years with the Predators and the team said it will seek a replacement.
- MacFarland’s immediate mandate is a full review of the roster, the No. 10 draft slot, the coaching staff and short- and long-term strategy as the organization pursues a rebuild backed by owner Bill Haslam.
- Colorado is reassigning hockey-operations duties after MacFarland’s exit, and the Predators’ shakeup ends a Poile-era presence that dated to the franchise’s 1997 founding.