MacFarland Takes Charge, Reshapes Predators

Chris MacFarland is beginning a new era for the Nashville Predators after taking over as president of hockey operations and general manager, with a mandate to revive a team that has missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. He has overhauled the front office and reshaped the roster, acquiring Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin while signing Alexander Kerfoot, with a stated goal of making the team younger and faster. The Predators remain in transition, however, and coach Andrew Brunette enters the final year of his contract under pressure after Nashville’s repeated slow starts and struggles to score and defend. If the team falls out of contention, MacFarland could consider trading veterans including Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei or even captain Roman Josi, while goaltender Juuse Saros faces increased competition from rising prospect Justus Annunen.