Chris MacFarland isn’t ready to call the Nashville Predators a playoff team.

After trading for two bottom-of-the-lineup players in Ross Colton and Jack Drury in the last week, that shouldn’t be a surprise. But MacFarland, who addressed media at Bridgestone Arena one day ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, said the moves are part of a calculated strategy to build back a winning franchise in Nashville.

“We can’t snap our fingers and, by tomorrow night, or by July 2nd, say ‘poof, we’re there’… this is going to take time,” MacFarland said on June 25. “We can get a little better in different ways over time… I can’t crystal ball it and say we’re going to be a playoff team next year. The goal is to methodically build it and build it in the right way.”

The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft takes place on June 26 (6 p.m. CT, ESPN, ESPN+) with rounds 2-7 on June 27 (10 a.m. CT, NHL Network).

NO. 10 OPTIONS: Why the Nashville Predators should take Wyatt Cullen at No. 10 in 2026 NHL Draft

Colton and Drury both come from Colorado, where MacFarland spent the last 11 seasons. Colton scored nine goals and 15 assists as a mostly fourth-line winger, while Drury scored 10 goals and 17 assists as a primarily defensive center.

MacFarland believes both will have bigger roles in Nashville as he looks to strengthen the Predators‘ center depth.

“We got better (with the moves),” MacFarland said. “There were reasons for both of those deals that we felt made it important. Bigger picture, we’d love to get stronger in the middle. We’d love to get more skilled in the middle of the ice.”

Colton cost the Predators two third-round picks, while Drury required sending former first-round picks Fedor Svechkov and Zach L’Heureux to Colorado. The Predators also received a 2029 third-round pick and prospect Chase Bradley in the Drury deal.

BLOCKBUSTER? Could the Predators pull off a blockbuster? 4 shocking trades for GM Chris MacFarland

Will the Predators trade up in the draft? GM Chris MacFarland weighs in

With his first two trades completed, MacFarland will now focus on the 2026 NHL Draft.

MacFarland did not reveal which players or positions the Predators are eyeing for the No. 10 overall pick, but added he’s talked to every team in the top part of the draft regarding trade options.

“We will be in the conversations on anything that will make us better,” he said. “We know where we are and we know what we are right now, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try and make incremental improvements.”

The NHL has seen a flurry of trades involving top-10 in the last few days. On June 21, Florida traded the No. 9 pick (and other assets) to Ottawa for forward Brady Tkachuk. Ottawa traded that same pick as part of a package to acquire forward William Eklund from San Jose. Then, in a surprise move, Buffalo traded defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago for the No. 4 overall pick.

MacFarland indicated those moves sparked more phone calls, but tempered expectations on the Predators making a similar move.

“I’d personally be surprised if there’s any more action like that (in the top 10), but certainly I’ll talk to all my colleagues around the league and try to get a feel. Right now, the expectation for me would be to make the pick at 10,” he said.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chris MacFarland explains Predators’ trades, his plan for NHL draft