The Nashville Predators have added another elite name to their front office, hiring Hockey Hall of Famer Rob Blake as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. The move comes just hours after the Predators named Chris MacFarland as GM and President of Hockey Operations, giving the team a top-tier management duo.
Blake, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and 16-year NHL defenseman, brings a wealth of experience to Smashville. He will oversee a range of operations including team and staff development, long- and short-term strategies, free agency, player recruitment, and drafting.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Rob Blake to the Nashville Predators as our executive vice president of hockey operations,” MacFarland said. “Rob is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a legend of our game. Additionally, he brings a wealth of knowledge in management, and I will rely on him to assist me in many areas across the department as we look to build a winning team in Smashville. I couldn’t think of a better person to join me and the organization on this journey.”
Blake is no stranger to working with MacFarland, having discussed the possibility of joining him in Colorado earlier in the season. Instead, he chose to join the Predators in a new partnership that could reshape the franchise’s future.
“Looking forward to digging under the hood here and getting to know the internal people and starting the journey to build something special,” Blake said after the announcement.
Blake’s hiring is the latest in a series of bold moves by the Predators following the departure of former GM Barry Trotz. Under Trotz, the team made several high-profile trades, but struggled to maintain consistency on the ice. Now, with MacFarland and Blake in place, the Predators are poised for a strategic reset.
The new regime now faces a key decision on the team’s core. Stars like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are under contract through the 2026-27 season, but their long-term futures may hinge on how the Predators approach the next phase of their rebuild.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun called the hire “excellent” and noted that the Predators are “on a roll” with their management shakeup.
The Predators open training camp on Sept. 20, with a new era in Nashville set to take flight.
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