The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators have an innate rivalry. After all, as Central Division rivals, they play each other four times a year during the regular season. Those matchups are the kind that determine who gets a playoff spot and who goes home.
But beyond the natural rivalry, there’s another interesting reason why the Avalanche-Predators rivalry could see a revival this season: Chris MacFarland.
When the erstwhile Avalanche GM moved to Nashville, the possibility of an enhanced rivalry grew. It’s not that there’s any bad blood between MacFarland and the Avalanche, at least not that we know of. It’s that there’s always a feeling of wanting to beat a former team. It’s that desire to succeed in a place where there might not have been as much optimism.
So, it makes sense that MacFarland would want to show up in Colorado and prove to them why he’s one of the most successful executives in the NHL. It’s the sort of thing that motivates the best of the best to shine.
But MacFarland is just one familiar face that will be looking to one-up the Avalanche. There are also Ross Colton on Jack Drury. While there's certainly no animosity there, either, it wouldn't be surprising to see these pros want to show they're better off away from Colorado.
That's why the rivalry next season could take on a whole new dimension.
Avalanche will want to show MacFarland he made the wrong choice
On the flip side, there will be a desire from the Avalanche to show MacFarland he made the wrong choice. It’s not about sabotaging a rival. It’s about beating them on the ice. It’s about emerging as the victors where it counts the most: On the scoreboard.
Beyond the evident plan to extract points in the standings, it’s also about the bragging rights that come with defeating a division rival. That’s what the Avalanche are gunning for this upcoming season. The Avs will want to prove that, despite MacFarland’s stewardship, the Predators are not in the same class as they are. And the only real way to prove that is by winning on the ice.
The Avalanche will have a bit of a tall order this upcoming season. The club will have to prove that last year’s Presidents’ Trophy campaign was no fluke. But they’ll also have to prove that washing out in the Western Conference Final was an aberration. This team is ready to contend with the NHL heavyweights.
That road begins with the 84-game gauntlet that is the regular season. The regular campaign is hard enough. With teams like the Predators standing in the way, the test will be just a bit harder. But there’s plenty of incentive to prevail. The bragging rights that come with beating a division rival are something that no one can take away.
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