Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland has been granted permission to speak with the Nashville Predators. Emily Kaplan: The Colorado Avalanche have granted the Nashville Predators permission to speak to GM Chris MacFarland. The expectation is the deal gets done for MacFarland to go to Nashville. Elliotte Friedman: MacFarland met face-to-face last night with owner Bill Haslam and the goal is for the Predators to close this quickly. They know they will have to hand the keys to MacFarland and are prepared to do it.