MacFarland Closes In on Predators GM Role After Haslam Meeting

Chris MacFarland met face-to-face with Predators majority owner Bill Haslam on Sunday night as the two sides move to close a deal that hands him full control of the Nashville hockey department.

The Search Timeline

The Nashville Predators began their general manager search after firing David Poile’s successor in April 2026 and immediately signaled they wanted an external candidate with a proven track record. Minority owner Nick Saban participated in every round of interviews, narrowing a list that included Tom Fitzgerald, Darren Yorke, Ryan Martin, Tyler Dellow and Marc Bergevin.

By late May the field had narrowed to MacFarland. The Avalanche had already granted Nashville permission to speak with their general manager, a step that had not been taken for other candidates. MacFarland’s name surfaced publicly the week after Colorado’s Conference Final loss to Vegas, which ended the Avalanche season on May 25, 2026.

Elliotte Friedman reported on June 2 that MacFarland and Haslam met the previous evening and that both sides intend to complete the hiring quickly. Emily Kaplan added that multiple sources expect the deal to be finalized imminently.

MacFarland’s Path from Anaheim to Colorado

MacFarland was a finalist for the Anaheim general manager job in 2022 before Joe Sakic elevated him to the top role in Colorado. Under MacFarland the Avalanche reached the Western Conference Final in 2026, their third consecutive deep playoff run since he assumed the GM title.

The Predators specifically sought a candidate who had already built a winner rather than another internal promotion. Haslam and Saban made clear they would give the new executive full autonomy, a condition MacFarland received assurances on during the Sunday meeting.

What Changes in Nashville

Once hired, MacFarland will inherit a roster that finished 18 points out of a playoff spot in 2025-26. He will control the 2026 first-round pick and approximately $12 million in projected cap space heading into free agency on July 1.

The organization has already cleared space by not renewing several assistant coaches and will allow MacFarland to reshape the scouting staff. The expectation inside the building is that he will retain head coach Andrew Brunette while adding at least two new assistants before training camp.

MacFarland’s first public appearance is anticipated at the NHL Scouting Combine in late May or early June, followed by a formal introduction before the draft on June 25.