According to reports from the Athletic [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7349305/2026/06/10/nhl-trades-free-agency-larkin-matthews-werenski/], the Nashville Predators weren't the only team that was interested in hiring Rob Blake. The Athletic notes there were multiple teams interested, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who met with Blake about him joining John Chayka and Mats Sundin. Blake ultimately decided to join the Predators' front office with Chris McFarland. Which makes sense based on their connection to the Colorado Avalanche; there was probably some familiarity there. It does make sense from the Maple Leafs' perspective; they are trying to change how their front office looks. This probably won't be the first former GM, or front office executive to be linked to them. However, it does show how confident he is to work with McFarland in Nashville. Which should be a vote of confidence for the fan base. Blake spent eight seasons at the helm of the Los Angeles Kings before he and the club mutually decided to part ways. He spent the entire 2025-26 searching for a new job. Until he joined the Predators' front office just a week ago. Predators Make Significant Front Office Changes [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c59a619f-48a2-47dd-a4d3-e2c95c706946.jpeg] Predators Make Significant Front Office Changes Hall of Fame defenseman Rob Blake joins Chris MacFarland to spearhead a new era in Nashville, signaling a sweeping overhaul as longtime executive Brian Poile exits. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-make-significant-front-office-adjustments] Stay updated with the most interesting Nashville Predators stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/topics/CAAqJQgKIh9DQkFTRVFvSUwyMHZNR3B1Y2w4U0JXVnVMVWRDS0FBUAE?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen]and never miss a story. Let us know what you think below. For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
