Why Chris MacFarland's Additions Since Becoming GM Of Predators Don't Make Them A Playoff Team

The Nashville Predators have been in a state of transition for a while now – but that process accelerated this summer with the hiring of GM and president Chris MacFarland.

The former Colorado Avalanche executive quickly put his mark on the team once he was brought aboard on June 2. But rather than make a major move for a proven superstar, MacFarland instead chose to completely reinvent Nashville's middle-six group of forwards.

But that doesn't mean the Predators are going to be a Stanley Cup playoff team anytime soon.

Nashville Predators Sign Mavrik Bourque To 6-year, $33 Million Contract

Nashville secures a vital piece of their future, locking up the young center to solidify a revamped top six alongside stars Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg.

MacFarland has obviously decided to firm up his second and third lines, and he's done well in that regard.

But if we're being honest, we still don't see the Preds being a playoff team in the highly competitive Central. This is a Nashville team that finished 20th in the league in goals-per-game average at 2.95 this past season. Defensively, the Predators finished 26th in goals-against average at 3.26 per game.

So even if the additions MacFarland has made works to their benefit, the Preds don't have the elite talent to push them ahead of the Avalanche, Stars, Mammoth and Minnesota Wild.

The Predators currently have $8.2 million in salary cap space, so MacFarland will be able to go out during the 2026-27 season and make changes as management deems necessary to take that next competitive step as a team. But with due respect to all Preds players, there's no Nathan MacKinnon or Kirill Kaprizov on this team. There's no Miro Heiskanen or Logan Cooley on this team.

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This story was originally published July 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM.