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General manager Chris MacFarland was busy on the first day of NHL free agency, adding three players to the Nashville Predators.
Now, with a suddenly crowded roster, he may start subtracting players.
"It's going to require some tough decisions," MacFarland told reporters at Bridgestone Arena on July 1. "Moving some players that maybe you wouldn't normally look to move in order to improve key areas of the ice."
On July 1, MacFarland added forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin in a trade with Dallas, then signed forward Alex Kerfoot to a two-year deal. Those three join forwards Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Nils Hoglander and Adam Edstrom, all acquired in the days leading up to free agency.
Because Nashville has 26 players under contract for 2026-27, three more than the roster limit, more changes are coming.
"It's going to require some creativity. It's going to be required to thread the needle at times," he said.
MacFarland didn't indicate specific players he might move, but he did indicate which position is under scrutiny.
"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill," he said. "A little more transition in our game. It's not easy to do, as you can see in free agency, there wasn't a lot of those defensemen available."
Since he was named the Predators' president of hockey operations and general manager on June 2, MacFarland has worked to improve the team's center depth. Acquiring Drury, a 26-year-old defensive whiz, and Colton, who can play center from the wing if needed, was a good start.
But the Bourque addition was more substantial. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Bourque is a skilled forward with excellent vision in all three zones. He broke through as a top-six player for the Stars last season, scoring 41 points in 82 games, mostly at wing. For the Predators, he's expected to play center.
"He's a good, good player in the middle of the ice," MacFarland said. "That was probably the biggest draw for us."
Acquiring 24-year-old Bourque, along with 32-year-old defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, cost the Predators a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. The Predators could have sent Bourque, a restricted free agent, an offer sheet, which would have required sending at least a first-round pick and a third-round pick to Dallas. Instead, MacFarland worked a deal to take on Lyubushkin's salary in exchange for bumping the draft pick down a round.
The Predators still have to sign Bourque to a contract, which should be somewhere between $5 and $7 million per year, according to most projections. MacFarland said he's making those negotiations a priority
"(Bourque's) arrow is still pointing up. We intend to give him every shot at playing in the middle for us," MacFarland said.
KERFOOT: Nashville Predators sign forward Alex Kerfoot to 2-year, $7 million deal
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators GM Chris MacFarland has 'tough decisions' ahead after free agency adds
Continue reading...
Now, with a suddenly crowded roster, he may start subtracting players.
"It's going to require some tough decisions," MacFarland told reporters at Bridgestone Arena on July 1. "Moving some players that maybe you wouldn't normally look to move in order to improve key areas of the ice."
On July 1, MacFarland added forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin in a trade with Dallas, then signed forward Alex Kerfoot to a two-year deal. Those three join forwards Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Nils Hoglander and Adam Edstrom, all acquired in the days leading up to free agency.
Because Nashville has 26 players under contract for 2026-27, three more than the roster limit, more changes are coming.
"It's going to require some creativity. It's going to be required to thread the needle at times," he said.
MacFarland didn't indicate specific players he might move, but he did indicate which position is under scrutiny.
"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill," he said. "A little more transition in our game. It's not easy to do, as you can see in free agency, there wasn't a lot of those defensemen available."
Chris MacFarland on why the Predators traded for Mavrik Bourque
Since he was named the Predators' president of hockey operations and general manager on June 2, MacFarland has worked to improve the team's center depth. Acquiring Drury, a 26-year-old defensive whiz, and Colton, who can play center from the wing if needed, was a good start.
But the Bourque addition was more substantial. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Bourque is a skilled forward with excellent vision in all three zones. He broke through as a top-six player for the Stars last season, scoring 41 points in 82 games, mostly at wing. For the Predators, he's expected to play center.
"He's a good, good player in the middle of the ice," MacFarland said. "That was probably the biggest draw for us."
Acquiring 24-year-old Bourque, along with 32-year-old defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, cost the Predators a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. The Predators could have sent Bourque, a restricted free agent, an offer sheet, which would have required sending at least a first-round pick and a third-round pick to Dallas. Instead, MacFarland worked a deal to take on Lyubushkin's salary in exchange for bumping the draft pick down a round.
The Predators still have to sign Bourque to a contract, which should be somewhere between $5 and $7 million per year, according to most projections. MacFarland said he's making those negotiations a priority
"(Bourque's) arrow is still pointing up. We intend to give him every shot at playing in the middle for us," MacFarland said.
KERFOOT: Nashville Predators sign forward Alex Kerfoot to 2-year, $7 million deal
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators GM Chris MacFarland has 'tough decisions' ahead after free agency adds
Continue reading...
