Chris MacFarland made his first appearance to the Nashville media Wednesday, May 4, and his responses sparked hope among many Nashville Predators fans.
The newly hired President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Predators piqued the interest of reporters in a media conference alongside Predators Chairman and Majority Owner Bill Haslam, and CEO Sean Henry to discuss the vision for the team going forward.
After missing the playoffs for the second-straight season, the Predators organization entered the offseason in a series of turmoil, but MacFarland quickly extinguished the worries and ensured that the Predators would be in good hands.
MacFarland's stance on roster construction is best-case scenario for Nashville
One of the biggest questions heading into the management hiring process was how each candidate demonstrated their roster construction skills. With some candidates' history not looking too promising, MacFarland is the best-case scenario for the Predators.
He ensured that the draft is the number one place for acquiring raw talent. MacFarland even went as far as saying it'll take some "pain" to start seeing success, prompting the idea of a future rebuild.
"This 10th pick is something that I'm super excited about," MacFarland said. "The true franchise player is usually drafted and it's usually going through some organizational pain. It's just part of the journey. Some years when you're picking high, that type of talent isn't in the draft. I think I can say is whether it's a trade or free agent, we leave no stone unturned."Nashville Predators
MacFarland's idea of organizational pain isn't a striking idea, as it's been used by many teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs in a form of a rebuild. The idea of a rebuild is a rather unique idea for the Predators organization, however.
For the longest time, Predators management insisted that it could work with what it had, dealing away young players when they didn't perform to make way for veteran players with track records. It was that mindset that slowly dug Nashville a hole that was hard to get out of.
MacFarland's unique vision means the Predators roster won't feel like a retirement home anymore, rather it'll feel like a college campus with a wide variety of youth backgrounds and a small sample of older individuals.
"Prospects have to be developed," MacFarland emphasized, "they need some time to cook. Some pop quick and become staples of the franchise. I'm going to need time to poke around the hood here to truly get a feel for that."Nashville Predators
Rebuild isn't a certainty, but a blueprint for success is in the works
In the conference, Haslam took time to note that the teams in the Stanley Cup Finals and how they constructed their winning rosters. The Vegas Golden Knights assembled a roster through trades signings and trades, while the Carolina Hurricanes made a roster through the draft. The discussion gave fans a good idea of how the team is thinking heading into the future, now realizing that they have to open other doors to see success.
MacFarland agreed with Haslam, adding onto the conversation:
"There are different ways," MacFarland said. "There are star players drafted at various points of the draft. You just got to keep building good player upon good player and putting them in good situations in your organization. When there's an opportunity to strike, whether it's a trade, then you got to be ready to do it. I do think the focus for us in that area is going to be a certain age bracket."Nashville Predators
The addition of "a certain age bracket" confirms that the Predators won't exactly spend big assets on aging players all the time; they'd much rather sell pieces to acquire younger assets that fit the timeline of the team.
"I don't see us looking to trade massive assets or young assets for a certain level age of player. If you can find a productive player...without using draft capital or having to use assets to make a trade, you just got better. I think those are the things we're going to talk about here. Whether it's a college free agent or looking into Europe, we'll continue to mine for gems."Nashville Predators
The coaching staff is here to stay, how long is still uncertain
MacFarland was asked about the coaching situation, a consistent question by many in regard to the Predators' lack of success. He showed no hesitation, telling reporters that he's looking forward to getting to know each coach and what role they play on the team.
"I know Andrew Brunette from scouting circles in the past, I know he's a very good person," MacFarland said. "Derek MacKenzie, Luke Richardson, I've had the good fortune of having as players during my Columbus days. I got to get a feel for things before looking at [coaching decisions]."Nashville Predators
Brunette's seat may not be as warm as before, but that doesn't mean it won't heat up again if the team doesn't live up to MacFarland's vision. As the team undergoes changes, it'll make the most sense to find a coach that better fits the roster. Every coach has their own style, and maybe in one-two years' time, his style won't fit the roster.
MacFarland's first introduction to the media gave fans a lot of hope for what's to come under his watch. After years of no playoff success, times are changing in Nashville, and it starts with MacFarland.
