Breaking: The Colorado Avalanche make a major change today

The fallout has begun in Denver.

After a President's Trophy winning season as the NHL's best regular season team, the Colorado Avalanche stalled out in the Western Conference Final and are now making some systemic changes.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that Avs GM Chris MacFarland has been granted permission to interview with the Nashville Predators, presumably for a more senior executive level position.

From Friedman:

According to several sources, the Nashville Predators have permission to talk to Colorado GM Chris MacFarland. But, according to these same sources, the biggest question is: what exactly is the title, role and offer?

A lateral move is unlikely to result in a zip code change for MacFarland, who was promoted to his current position in July 2022. He was elevated to that role when Colorado desired to keep him instead of allowing him to interview for Anaheim’s then-vacant GM position, eventually hiring Pat Verbeek.

McFarland has worked hand and hand with Avs legend Joe Sakic in recent years and much of the team's success can be traced back to the leadership trio of Sakic, MacFarland, and head coach Jared Bednar.

There are rumors, of course, that if and when MacFarland leaves, the team will move on from Bednar as well. Sakic, however... he seems like an Avalanche-lifer.

Sakic deserves enormous credit for transforming Colorado from a league basement-dweller into a Stanley Cup champion. After the Avalanche finished dead last in 2016-17, Sakic resisted pressure to make short-sighted moves and instead built around a young core led by Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog. His biggest wins included acquiring Devon Toews for a pair of second-round picks, landing Nazem Kadri, and adding key championship pieces such as Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, and Darcy Kuemper ahead of the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup victory. Sakic's work earned him the NHL's General Manager of the Year Award and helped deliver Colorado's first championship since 2001.

MacFarland, who was promoted to general manager in 2022 while Sakic moved into a president role, has largely maintained Colorado's status as a contender. The Avalanche have continued their lengthy playoff streak and remained among the NHL's elite regular-season teams under his watch.

However, the group has not been immune to criticism. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Colorado has repeatedly fallen short of expectations in the playoffs despite boasting one of hockey's most talented rosters. Some critics have questioned MacFarland's aggressive "win-now" moves and the organization's inability to build enough depth around its stars, while others point to special-teams struggles and roster management issues.

Bednar's tenure mirrors that story. Hired in 2016, he guided the Avalanche through their worst season and eventually became the winningest coach in franchise history, leading the club to eight consecutive playoff appearances and the 2022 Stanley Cup. His calm demeanor and ability to develop talent have earned widespread praise.

Still, Bednar has faced scrutiny for Colorado's postseason disappointments outside of the Cup-winning season. The Avalanche have suffered several frustrating playoff exits against top Western Conference rivals, leading some observers to question whether the coaching staff has made enough tactical adjustments in high-pressure series.

Even with those shortcomings, the Sakic-MacFarland-Bednar era stands as one of the most successful periods in Avalanche history, producing sustained contention, a Stanley Cup championship, and a standard of excellence that few NHL organizations have matched over the past decade.