Chris MacFarland, assistant general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is joining the Avalanche in the same capacity. I got word of the move from a source in Columbus, and it was confirmed by Avs vice president Jean Martineau. MacFarland is from Bronx, N.Y., and joined the Blue Jackets in 1999. He was named assistant GM in 2008, and last season worked with co-assistant GM Bill Zito under GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
MacFarland is reportedly good friends with Adam Foote, the a former Blue Jackets defenseman who is Colorado’s volunteer defensive specialist.
The Avs already have two assistant GMs in Craig Billington and Greg Sherman, who work under GM Joe Sakic and coach/VP hockey operations Patrick Roy.