- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,403
- Reaction score
- 59
Chris MacFarland has the general manager skills needed to lead the Nashville Predators back to the top of the NHL.
But there are some skills he doesn't have.
For that, he brought in Rob Blake.
Hired as the team's first ever executive vice president of hockey operations on June 5, this marks Blake's return to the NHL. He had spent 12 seasons in the Los Angeles Kings' front office but was not retained after the 2024-25 season. Before that, he played more than 1,200 games as a defenseman in the NHL, winning a Norris Trophy, a Stanley Cup, and entered the Hall of Fame in 2014.
"(Blake) has just a wealth of experience," MacFarland told The Tennessean on June 6. "I'm not trying to be something I'm not, and he can help with that."
When MacFarland was named president of hockey operations and general manager on June 2, he began talking with Blake about joining him in Nashville. The two had formed a connection through Joe Sakic, Colorado's president of hockey operations and MacFarland's former boss, and Blake's teammate for five seasons with the Avalanche (2000-05).
"(Blake) was super excited to be a part of Nashville. He sees what I see here and wants to be a part of it," MacFarland said.
With MacFarland, the Predators are getting an experienced, successful front office executive who knows the salary cap, contract negotiations and how to win in today's NHL.
With Blake, the Predators are getting a former player's insight — someone uniquely built to connect with the team.
"When (former players) talk, there's a certain weight behind it," MacFarland said. "There are conversations (Blake) could have with a Roman Josi. Very few people would be able to understand what Roman Josi goes through as a player. There's just inherent value that (Blake) can bring in so many different ways."
Blake's track record as Los Angeles' general manager was spotty. Even after adding three top-10 picks in Alex Turcotte (No. 5, 2019), Quinton Byfield (No. 2, 2020) and Brandt Clarke (No. 8, 2021), the Kings never made it past the first round of the playoffs. After a fourth straight first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers in 2025, Blake was replaced as general manager by Ken Holland.
Despite that, MacFarland trusts Blake's instincts and saw his impact in the league as too important to pass up.
"When he's in a room, people stand up straighter. He's a gentleman. He has great relationships from his time in the game, but also from his time in the (GM) chair. He understands the stress points. He can be a great resource for me," MacFarland said.
MacFarland said that Blake will be his second-in-command, helping him with crucial decisions in free agency, contract negotiations, and more.
POILE LEAVING: Assistant GM Brian Poile, son of former GM David Poile, leaving Nashville Predators
Hiring Blake is just one of MacFarland's early moves as Predators general manager. He's also looking to bolster the team's data analytics, a group he sees as understaffed.
"We want to add to an already solid infrastructure," MacFarland said. "For me, analytics is a massive part of the decision making. It will touch everything from the draft, development, pro scouting, re-signing players, free agent targets. It will be a piece of the decision-making puzzle in everything we do."
BRUNETTE? What Predators GM Chris MacFarland said about Andrew Brunette's future
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: Why Predators GM Chris MacFarland brought Rob Blake to Nashville
Continue reading...
But there are some skills he doesn't have.
For that, he brought in Rob Blake.
Hired as the team's first ever executive vice president of hockey operations on June 5, this marks Blake's return to the NHL. He had spent 12 seasons in the Los Angeles Kings' front office but was not retained after the 2024-25 season. Before that, he played more than 1,200 games as a defenseman in the NHL, winning a Norris Trophy, a Stanley Cup, and entered the Hall of Fame in 2014.
"(Blake) has just a wealth of experience," MacFarland told The Tennessean on June 6. "I'm not trying to be something I'm not, and he can help with that."
When MacFarland was named president of hockey operations and general manager on June 2, he began talking with Blake about joining him in Nashville. The two had formed a connection through Joe Sakic, Colorado's president of hockey operations and MacFarland's former boss, and Blake's teammate for five seasons with the Avalanche (2000-05).
"(Blake) was super excited to be a part of Nashville. He sees what I see here and wants to be a part of it," MacFarland said.
Why Chris MacFarland hired Rob Blake to work in Nashville
With MacFarland, the Predators are getting an experienced, successful front office executive who knows the salary cap, contract negotiations and how to win in today's NHL.
With Blake, the Predators are getting a former player's insight — someone uniquely built to connect with the team.
"When (former players) talk, there's a certain weight behind it," MacFarland said. "There are conversations (Blake) could have with a Roman Josi. Very few people would be able to understand what Roman Josi goes through as a player. There's just inherent value that (Blake) can bring in so many different ways."
Blake's track record as Los Angeles' general manager was spotty. Even after adding three top-10 picks in Alex Turcotte (No. 5, 2019), Quinton Byfield (No. 2, 2020) and Brandt Clarke (No. 8, 2021), the Kings never made it past the first round of the playoffs. After a fourth straight first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers in 2025, Blake was replaced as general manager by Ken Holland.
Despite that, MacFarland trusts Blake's instincts and saw his impact in the league as too important to pass up.
"When he's in a room, people stand up straighter. He's a gentleman. He has great relationships from his time in the game, but also from his time in the (GM) chair. He understands the stress points. He can be a great resource for me," MacFarland said.
MacFarland said that Blake will be his second-in-command, helping him with crucial decisions in free agency, contract negotiations, and more.
POILE LEAVING: Assistant GM Brian Poile, son of former GM David Poile, leaving Nashville Predators
Hiring Blake is just one of MacFarland's early moves as Predators general manager. He's also looking to bolster the team's data analytics, a group he sees as understaffed.
"We want to add to an already solid infrastructure," MacFarland said. "For me, analytics is a massive part of the decision making. It will touch everything from the draft, development, pro scouting, re-signing players, free agent targets. It will be a piece of the decision-making puzzle in everything we do."
BRUNETTE? What Predators GM Chris MacFarland said about Andrew Brunette's future
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: Why Predators GM Chris MacFarland brought Rob Blake to Nashville
Continue reading...
