The Nashville Predators GM search continues, and there has been 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 speculation surrounding Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland, who is still under contract.
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Kyle Bukauskas: “So we're waiting in Nashville. What's going to happen there? Who's going to be in charge of his hockey ops? What's the front office going to look like moving forward. It's been a long process there. You said on this podcast a while back that they seem like they're waiting for something. There was a report out there linking Chris MacFarland of the Avalanche before you. And the Preds and their search?
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Friedman: “So, first of all, I don't believe there's an announcement imminent on Monday. Anyway, we're still waiting. And when that MacFarland thing comes out, that's one of the things I've been wondering about. If Nashville is waiting to talk to him.
And I believe that may be one of the reasons why the search is taking so long. However, I would like to emphasize, I do not believe that there is an agreement or agreement in place or anything close to it. I don't believe it's a guarantee that you're going to Nashville or leaving Colorado. But the length of the search makes it look like the Predators are waiting to talk to someone, and he's a reasonable target.
Now, you'll remember that at the beginning of the year, when they started looking, they asked permission to talk to the GM of the Hurricanes, Eric Tulsky, and they were denied. There is no way, by the same token, that Colorado would consider that request with the team still in play. If it was done, and I don't know if it was done, but even if it was done, there's no way Colorado would say yes to it.
Also, from what I understand, Chris McFarland's contract is not up. I don't know exactly what the terms are, but he is under contract after the season. So it's not like he can just pack up and leave.
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I think it's also important to know the history of Colorado and MacFarland. When Anaheim hired Pat Verbeek, the Ducks, during their search, asked permission to speak with MacFarland, and he would be an official player there. At the time, Joe Sakic was the GM. He talked 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 the GM. He'd like to be in Colorado, but if Sakic isn't willing to leave this area, he'd like the chance to try it out somewhere else. However, what Sakic did, he refused permission and ended up promoting MacFarland to GM. So, it is clear that the organization values him a lot.
So, all I can say is that I don't believe anything is being done. I can't believe Colorado let him talk or would let him talk during this season. I think he's still under contract, but I believe Nashville would ask.
And another thing here, from the fact that a few people, because this caused a stir in the NHL. Another word for him is that he won't leave Colorado unless it's a big move. And you know, I just don't know if that's what Nashville would want to do.
So I just think, the safest way to put it is, I don't believe they have permission to talk to him. I don't believe there is an agreement in place. So I don't believe this is as close as it has been suggested.
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But I think it's possible they'll ask to talk to him once Colorado's season is over? Yes. But I think that the idea that the seller is made, goes 100% there. I think that's way, way, way premature. “
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