- Chris MacFarland says the goal in Nashville is not a wild card team
- Predators overhauled the forward group after missing the playoffs two years running
- Read below for MacFarland’s plan and Nashville’s No. 1 center question
Chris MacFarland has been running the Nashville Predators for two and a half months, and he already knows what he does not want them to be.
The new general manager laid out his thinking in NHL.com’s 32-in-32 look at Nashville:
“The goal is not to build a wild card team or a team that can make the playoffs. It’s really hard to do. Don’t get me wrong, but our goal is to methodically build a team that can get into that window where we’re hopefully competing.”
Nashville hired MacFarland on June 2 after four seasons running the Colorado Avalanche. Check out his full introductory press conference:
Playoff hockey used to be automatic here. The Predators got in nine times in 10 seasons from 2014 through 2024, and they have missed the last two.
Both misses traced back to the same thing. Nashville won eight of its first 30 games in 2024-25 and six of its first 22 last season. A strong second half still left the Predators at 38-34-10, four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card in the West.
MacFarland talked about what his leadership group told him when he arrived in June.
“They felt their start last year hurt them. Our division is a bear, and the conference is good. We’re going to have to be ready right from the start.”
His answer was to tear up the forward group. Ross Colton and Jack Drury came over from Colorado in June, Mavrik Bourque arrived from Dallas on July 1, and Adam Edstrom and Nils Hoglander came in separate trades. Alex Kerfoot signed in free agency.
Fans have been getting a look at the new group all month:
Bourque is the name to watch down the middle. He played the wing in Dallas last season and made it clear at his introductory press conference that he wants the center job back.
“I played center my entire life except last year, so I’m looking forward to having a shot and show what I can do down the middle. I believe I’m a better player down the middle.”
Ryan O’Reilly held that job the past two seasons and put up 74 points, his most since 2018-19. He is also 35, which is why Nashville stacked bodies at the position all summer.
Defense is the other problem. Nashville ranked 26th in goals against per game at 3.26 last season, and the entire top six is back with Ilya Lyubushkin added from Dallas. MacFarland has already said he wants more puck skill on the back end.
Roman Josi remains the guy who drives it. Take a look at every point he put up last season:
The Predators open at home against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 1, and MacFarland made it clear that a slow one is not an option.
