It has been a tough couple of years for the Colorado Avalanche. Now, former general manager Chris MacFarland did everything he could to put together a championship-caliber team. He made moves in the draft, traded players, and even made claims on waivers for players. But the Avalanche could never seem to get over the hump. Colorado failed to win a single game in the conference finals this season and lost in the quarter-finals last season. In the end, there was no room to move up for MacFarland, and that cost Colorado from being able to keep him here.

Building a team

One major factor (this was part of his doing) was that the Avalanche have less to work with. Over the next four years, the Nashville Predators will have a lot more to work with. They will have 40 draft picks compared to the 25 picks for the Avalanche. With fewer big-name players on the payroll in Nashville, there is also more money to play with. There will be more opportunities to bring players to the team with the picks and no income tax compared to Colorado (it is a minimum of 4.4 percent).

An offer you can’t refuse

Colorado attempted to keep its general manager, but the Predators made several counteroffers that were too good to pass up. It not only included a six-year contract but also a promotion. MacFarland’s new title as general manager would also include president of hockey operations. This was a role that, as long as Joe Sakic was with Colorado, he could never get. Although the team never disclosed how much the offer was, it usually includes a pay raise (in a tax-free state).

Like any other person, MacFarland took an opportunity that was too good to pass up. He will get the chance to rebuild a team his way, and he will get to do it with a decent pay bump. In this economy, I do not blame MacFarland for taking the risk and joining a rival club for a bigger paycheck.