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Longtime CBJ assistant GM leaves club, joins Avs in same capacity (Updated)

ChrisMacFarland

Chris MacFarland, who’s been with Columbus since the organization’s inception, has left the team’s front office to become the new assistant general manager in Colorado.

“MacFarland has been an important member of this organization for many years and his contributions to our hockey club have been significant,” Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. “He has been presented with an exciting opportunity outside our organization and while we are sorry to see him leave, we thank Chris for his years of service, hard work and commitment to the Blue Jackets and wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Per the Columbus Dispatch, MacFarland’s “exciting opportunity” is indeed with the Avalanche, who currently have Greg Sherman and Craig Billington listed as the assistants to GM Joe Sakic.

As mentioned above, MacFarland has spent the last 16 years in Columbus, beginning in hockey ops before getting promoted to assistant GM under Scott Howson, then Kekalainen.

More, from the Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline:

Writing was on the wall for MacFarland’s departure since John Davidson took over hockey operations and began surrounding with his guys.


— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 18, 2015

MacFarland was mostly charged with running #AHL rosters w Syraucse and Springfield. His reputation in AHL circles was absolutely sterling.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 18, 2015

UPDATED: Via email, the Avs confirmed that MacFarland will be joining the club as an assistant general manager, adding that no further front office moves would happen. So that means MacFarland, Billington and Sherman will serve as the three AGMs under Joe Sakic.