The Colorado Avalanche lost in the Western Conference Final to the Vegas Golden Knights after an elite season. It was a disappointing end, and Colorado immediately lost a key piece of the front office.
The Avalanche lost GM Chris MacFarland to the same role with the Nashville Predators. According to reports, they could have stopped the move, but did not promote their GM.
“It's my understanding that there was no buyout involved with getting Chris MacFarland to Nashville. He had a year left, and the Avalanche made ‘significant counter offers' with MacFarland to keep him… but in the end the Predators' offer (which is a 6-year deal) was better,” Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reported. “Also, the Avalanche acknowledged that since he was getting a promotion, it would be a difficult sell.”
The Avalanche have franchise legend Joe Sakic as the President of Hockey Operations, so a promotion for MacFarland would have created a crowded front office. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Predators' offer was a more lucrative deal than Colorado offered, in part due to Sakic's presence.
MacFarland is now the top hockey operations decision-maker with the Predators. With Sakic running the show with the Avalanche, he was never going to get that opportunity. Colorado had promoted MacFarland to prevent his departure in the past, but decided not to this time.
The Predators gave MacFarland a six-year contract, which implies they are prepared for a longer path back to the playoffs. With the Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild in the Central Division, it is a tough path to the postseason. Colorado, in the meantime, has an older roster and very few draft picks. How can MacFarland and Sakic improve their respective teams after disappointing seasons? Will MacFarland change his strategy with a new team?
