Holland Gets The Keys to a Quality NHL Team

When an out-of-work general manager lands a job with a 105-point NHL Stanley Cup contender, it’s like winning a trip to Disneyland.

Ken Holland’s grandchildren understand that after he was hired to fill the Los Angeles Kings’ vacant GM position.

“My family’s incredibly excited,” Holland said at the Kings’ press conference. “My grandkids are really excited. I gotta tell you, they’re looking forward to coming to LA and watching some Kings’ games and going to Disneyland. They’re all under nine.”

As strong as Disneyland is a lure for his family, Holland took this job because he is inheriting a quality team. That’s not what you usually get when you are taking over after a team and GM have mutually agreed upon his departure.  It’s easy to understand why the former Red Wings general manager took his name out of consideration for the New York Islanders job. The Islanders missed the playoffs last season and they have no guarantee for 2025-26.

After Holland was introduced, he thanked Rob Blake. You don’t always see an incoming GM thank the outgoing GM.

Cupboard Well Stocked

“I think he did a tremendous job as the general manager of the LA Kings and rebuilding the franchise,” Holland said. “And certainly in 2016, I charted a course in Detroit for a rebuild… It’s tough, these long term rebuilds. And when I look at the job that Blakey did in retooling, rebuilding and the team had 105 points this year, tremendous regular season, in my mind was a legitimate Stanley cup contender before the playoffs started.”

At 69, Holland is probably suited for what needs to be done in Los Angeles. This is franchise that needs fine-tuning, not an overhaul.  Holland’s immediate job is to find the missing pieces, maybe two or three players to get the team over the hump. When Holland was in Detroit, he did that well enough for a quarter century of playoff appearances. When he ran out of talented veterans, what hurt him was that he let the organization’s drafting prowess become sloppy and unfocused. 

The Kings are among the NHL’s top defensive teams, and have consistent goaltending from Darcy Kuemper. Holland didn’t have the goaltending in Edmonton.

Understanding the Mission

A member of the media asked Holland if he felt pressure coming to Los Angeles.

“I was a manager in Detroit for 22 years. That was pressure,” Holland said. “And then I went to Edmonton for five years and that was pressure. And I’m jumping back into the pressure cooker here. ”

Holland said he understands the Kings’ place in the Los Angeles area, and the need to keep the Kings relevant.  He didn’t have issue in Edmonton or Detroit.

“You think about the professional basketball, professional baseball teams and all the competition for the, for the entertainment dollar,” Holland said. “So it’s important that we win, compete…what’s winning? ”

Winning is different in Los Angeles than it is today in Detroit where the team is trying to get into the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

“Well, first off, you got to make the playoffs.,” Holland said. “And then when you make the playoffs, you want to go on playoff runs. They’ve made the playoffs here and unfortunately the last four years, got knocked out by Edmonton.”

Holland understands his mission.

“Got to find a way to make the team a little bit different, a little bit better,” Holland said.

That may not be easier than rebuilding. The last few steps toward a championship are the most challenging.

It will be interesting to see whether Holland gets the Kings to the championship series before the Red Wings rebuild is completed. Detroit fans are watching.