MacFarland remained in the Blue Jackets organization for 16 years, serving in all facets of management and spending his final two seasons within the organization as the General Manager Blue Jackets' minor-league affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.
[2] On May 21, 2015, MacFarland was hired by the Colorado Avalanche to serve in the same capacity of an assistant general manager to Joe Sakic.
Working closely with Sakic, MacFarland played a pivotal part in helping the Avalanche rebuild from finishing last in the league in the 2016–17 season to capturing the Presidents' Trophy in 2020–21 and winning the Stanley Cup in the following 2021–22 season.
[3] On July 11, 2022, MacFarland was promoted to the general manager for the championship-winning Colorado Avalanche, with Joe Sakic assuming the president of hockey operations role.
[1] Chris and his wife, Chandra, have three sons, Jake, Gavin, Sawyer, and a daughter, Cara.