A new era in Nashville: Chris MacFarland reshapes the Predators with speed and bold moves

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Fans made very clear they wanted the Nashville Predators to hire a new general manager with no ties to David Poile or Barry Trotz, eager for someone with fresh ideas and connections to revive or rebuild the franchise.

Chris MacFarland is trying to revitalize the Predators and get them to contender status as soon as possible.

“You saw all the moves he made this summer," captain Roman Josi said of the man nicknamed “CMac.” "You know he wants to win with this team now and he wants compete now, and I think especially for guys who are a little bit older too, that’s huge.”

MacFarland was introduced in June as Nashville's new president of hockey operations and only the franchise’s third general manager. His resume made it easy for Predators chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam to select a man who spent 11 seasons with Colorado, the last four as general manager.

The new GM wasted no time revamping the front office and tweaking the roster.

MacFarland hired Rob Blake as executive vice president of hockey operations with Jamie Langenbrunner a special assistant. He also hired Vukie Mpofu, who spent the past three seasons with Pittsburgh as director of hockey operations, as an assistant general manager.

The first trade came with MacFarland's old team bringing forward Ross Colton from Colorado to Nashville, then the GM swapped a pair of young forwards for faceoff specialist Jack Drury in another deal with the Avalanche. He signed Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract four days later.

MacFarland also traded with Dallas for forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, and the 24-year-old Bourque quickly got a six-year deal. Veteran center Alexander Kerfoot signed a two-year contract with Nashville to start free agency.

“We do want to get faster,” said MacFarland, a plan familiar to fans of the speedy Avalanche. “The NHL is getting younger and faster year after year, and I think we need personnel-wise we need to get faster. ... That’s gonna take time.”

The changes have made the upcoming season feel like a new start for the Predators.

“There’s not many people that are questioning his decisions because of the track record that he has,” veteran center Steven Stamkos said. “He’s obviously been around the game for a long time. He’s been an excellent communicator with us since day one that he got the job. And he has a vision.”

Trading Luke Evangelista Sept. 1 for draft picks caught several Predators by surprise. Evangelista is young at 24 and coming off a career year.

“He’s going to have to make some hard decisions, and that’s kind of the nature of the business,” Josi said.

Coach Andrew Brunette also has talked with his new boss. Brunette, who once played for Trotz, said they see the game similarly and knows the success MacFarland has had with how the hockey is played in the NHL now.

“He’s done some things to push us in that direction,” Brunette said. "And by the pieces he added, I feel very confident and trusting where he’s thinking and where he is going.”

The most obvious change is speed. The Predators are faster than the past couple years, which should allow them to play differently.

One topic almost didn't need to be discussed: Start the season better and at least keep pace with the pack in the Western Conference. Last season, the Predators ranked dead last in the NHL standings on Dec. 8, and they missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

“I think everybody wants to get off to a good start, so I do I think that is important for us, yes,” MacFarland said.

MacFarland wants to get to know Brunette and his coaching staff, a process that sped up when training camp started Sept. 17. Brunette has one year left on his contract.

That's why much of the Predators practiced together for at least two weeks before the start of training camp. Nashville opens the season Oct. 1 hosting Minnesota, the first of nine home games before November brings eight road games.

“We don’t have the luxury to wait for anybody this year,” Brunette said.

Another sluggish start not only puts Brunette's job security in question but also puts key players potentially on the trade block. Ryan O'Reilly is going into his final year under contract, and Josi, Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault all are 36.

“We don't want to tiptoe into the season,” Stamkos said.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) shoots the puck during NHL hockey training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) deflects a shot on goal during NHL hockey training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette watches his players during NHL hockey training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators general manager Chris MacFarland speaks during a news conference at the team's NHL hockey training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — An attacker opened fire near a high school in western Turkey on Tuesday and wounded at least 11 people, officials said. The suspected shooter was arrested.

At least two of the injured were in serious condition, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said in a statement on X.

The attack took place in front of a vocational and technical high school in Turgutlu district, in Manisa province, the provincial governor's office said. Police and medical teams were immediately sent to the scene.

HaberTurk news channel said the assailant was a 15-year-old student at the school. The report added that he arrived at the scene armed with a shotgun he took from his grandmother's house and fired randomly near the school before trying to flee the scene on foot.

The motive of the attack was not known, according to Gurlek, who said two chief prosecutors were appointed to investigate the shooting, including claims that the student was bullied at the school.

The assailant's parents and grandfather, who owned the gun, were taken into custody as part of the investigation, Gurlek said.

Security camera video showed the alleged shooter walking down a street carrying a weapon. Another video showed him running down a street, still carrying the weapon.

Anxious parents rushed to the school and confrontations broke out between them and police who blocked the entrance to the building, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.

The attack came months after Turkey was shocked by two school shootings this year. The government increased security at educational facilities at the start of the academic year last week.

In April, 16 people, mostly students, were wounded when a former student opened fire at a high school in Sanliurfa province in Turkey's southeast. The assailant later killed himself.

The next day, a 14-year-old student opened fire on two classrooms at his school in nearby Kahramanmaras province, killing eight students and a teacher and wounding 13 others. The attacker was killed by police.

People walk past a vocational and technical high school in the Turgutlu district of Manisa province, western Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, after a gunman opened fire near the school. (IHA via AP)