Chris MacFarland | |
---|---|
Born | The Bronx, New York City, U.S. | March 28, 1970
Alma mater | Pace University |
Occupation | General Manager |
Years active | 1999–present |
Employer | Colorado Avalanche |
Known for | Ice hockey executive (1999–present) |
Awards | 2022 Stanley Cup |
Chris MacFarland (born March 28, 1970) is an American ice hockey executive serving as the general manager for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Born in the Bronx, New York, MacFarland played collegiate hockey at Pace University where he received a bachelor's degree in business in 1992 and later graduated from the university's law school in 1998. He began his career on the business side of ice hockey as an intern in the NHL's New York office from 1993 and worked in the NHL Productions office while attending law school. [1]
MacFarland joined Columbus prior to the 1999–2000 campaign and served as the manager of hockey operations from 2001 to 2007 before being promoted to assistant to the General Manager, Scott Howson, in July 2007.
MacFarland remained in the Blue Jackets organization for 16 years, serving in all facets of management and spending his final two seasons within the organization as the General Manager Blue Jackets' minor-league affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. [2]
On May 21, 2015, MacFarland was hired by the Colorado Avalanche to serve in the same capacity of an assistant general manager to Joe Sakic. Working closely with Sakic, MacFarland played a pivotal part in helping the Avalanche rebuild from finishing last in the league in the 2016–17 season to capturing the Presidents' Trophy in 2020–21 and winning the Stanley Cup in the following 2021–22 season. [3]
On July 11, 2022, MacFarland was promoted to the general manager for the championship-winning Colorado Avalanche, with Joe Sakic assuming the president of hockey operations role. [1]
Chris and his wife, Chandra, have three sons, Jake, Gavin, Sawyer, and a daughter, Cara. [4]
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Ball Arena, which it shares with the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
Joseph Steven Sakic is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played his entire 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career, which lasted from 1988 to 2009, with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Named captain of the team in 1992, Sakic is regarded as one of the greatest team leaders in league history and was able to consistently motivate his team to play at a winning level. Nicknamed "Burnaby Joe", Sakic was named to play in 13 NHL All-Star Games and selected to the NHL First All-Star Team at centre three times. Sakic led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, earning the most valuable player (MVP) in the 1996 playoffs. In 2001, Sakic earned both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award as MVP of the NHL. He is one of six players to participate in the first two of the team's Stanley Cup victories and won the Stanley Cup a third time with the Avalanche in 2022 while serving as the team's general manager. Sakic became the third person, after Milt Schmidt and Serge Savard, to win the Stanley Cup with the same franchise as a player and general manager.
Adam David Vernon Foote is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, the current Assistant Coach of the Vancouver Canucks of National Hockey League, and the former head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. He was best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay-at-home defenceman.
Christopher Ellis Drury is an American professional ice hockey executive and former player. He has served as the president and general manager for the New York Rangers since May 5, 2021. He previously served as the general manager of the Rangers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Thomas James Fitzgerald is an American ice hockey executive and former player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). He is the president of hockey operations and general manager of the New Jersey Devils. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 as a director of player development with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Colorado Eagles are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Loveland, Colorado. The Eagles play in the Pacific Division of the American Hockey League.
James Douglas MacLean is a Canadian sportscaster working for Rogers Media's Sportsnet and former ice hockey coach and general manager. He is the former president/general manager and head coach of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets and was also the head coach of the Florida Panthers. He is affectionately known as "Prince Eddy" due to his affinity for Prince Edward Island.
Donald Douglas Waddell is an American professional ice hockey executive and former player who is currently the president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He previously held similar leadership roles with the Carolina Hurricanes and Atlanta Thrashers.
Jarmo Kekäläinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey executive and former player who briefly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. Since his retirement, Kekäläinen has served as an executive, most notably as the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2024.
The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2000–01 season, and the culmination of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion and Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. It was Colorado's second appearance in the Finals, and the first since the team won the Cup in 1996. It was New Jersey's third appearance in the Finals and second straight appearance after winning the Cup in the previous year.
The 2000–01 Colorado Avalanche season was the franchise's 29th season, 22nd in the National Hockey League, and sixth as the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup by defeating the defending champion New Jersey Devils 4–3 in the Finals. Ray Bourque would be the first and only NHL player to hoist the Stanley Cup prior to the team captain when Joe Sakic handed it to him out of respect for the future Hall of Famer in what proved to be his final game.
The 2009–10 Colorado Avalanche season was the franchise's 38th season, 31st in the National Hockey League (NHL) and 15th as the Colorado Avalanche.
Greg Sherman is the former general manager of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, a post he had held from June 3, 2009, to September 19, 2014. Sherman stepped into the role following seven years as a special assistant to general manager François Giguère and was later replaced by Joe Sakic.
Kyle Benjamin Dubas is a Canadian ice hockey executive who is the current president of hockey operations and general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He previously served as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Trent Vogelhuber is an American former professional ice hockey forward who most notably played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 211th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently serving as head coach of the Cleveland Monsters.