Jun 7, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, left, and head coach Kris Knoblauch take questions during media day in advance of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Kings named Ken Holland their new general manager on Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed. Holland replaces Rob Blake, fired by the club last week after eight seasons.
“As we did our due diligence, we identified Ken as the absolute best option and acted decisively to make him our General Manager,” Kings President Luc Robitaille said in a release. “His track record of success is undeniable and after our conversations with him, we were clearly convinced he was the right person for us at this time. He has the experience to lead us on the proper path that will help us win now and compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Holland, 69, was the Red Wings’ GM from 1997-98 to 2018-19, during which time Detroit captured the Stanley Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2008. He also was the team’s assistant GM during a Stanley Cup run in 1997.
Most recently, Holland was the GM of the Oilers from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Last season, Edmonton lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, after which Holland left the team by mutual agreement.
Holland was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020 as a “builder.” He had a brief playing career as a goalie: one game with the Hartford Whalers in 1980-81 and three with the Red Wings in 1983-84. Holland went 0-2-1 with a 4.96 goals-against average and an .825 save percentage.
Los Angeles went 48-25-9 (105 points) while finishing second in the Pacific Division this season. Coach Jim Hiller, in a season and a half on the job, has a 69-37-10 record.
–Field Level Media
