A new face is joining the Predators’ front office, and Nashville is bringing in one of the league’s younger hockey minds to do it.
On Tuesday, general manager Chris MacFarland announced that the Predators have hired Vukie Mpofu as assistant general manager. Mpofu will plug into the hockey operations department and work with MacFarland across a wide range of responsibilities, including player acquisition strategy, CBA, salary compliance, and more.
MacFarland made it clear the organization sees Mpofu as more than just another hire. In the team’s release, he called him “one of the great young minds in the game today” and said the Predators are confident he’ll mesh with the rest of the management group as they try to build a winning franchise in Nashville.
“We are very pleased that Vukie has elected to join the Predators hockey operations staff as Assistant General Manager,” said MacFarland. “He is one of the great young minds in the game today, and we are confident he’ll be a great fit with the rest of our management team as we look to build a winning franchise in Nashville.”
Getting Mpofu wasn’t just a simple handoff, either. MacFarland said the Predators had to work with the Pittsburgh Penguins to make the move happen.
Mpofu, 30, had spent the last three seasons in Pittsburgh under general manager Kyle Dubas, serving as director of hockey operations and legal affairs. Those duties lined up closely with what he’ll handle in Nashville.
Mpofu said he’s eager for the opportunity and grateful for the chance to join the organization.
“My wife and I are thrilled to join the Predators organization,” Mpofu said. “I want to thank Chris MacFarland for his trust and belief in me.
The Predators are a world-class franchise with a promising future, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the next chapter here in Nashville. I look forward to working alongside two of the game’s best leaders in Chris and Rob Blake, and thank Mr.
Haslam for entrusting me to be part of the management team they are assembling.”