A Big Year For Ken Holland
from Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal,
I see Ken Holland as the hockey executive version of Nolan Ryan. Holland was set to ease into semi-retirement after a few poor seasons in Detroit. Some thought then that Ken had perhaps “lost his fastball”. After winning the Central Division 10 times, the President’s Trophy 4 times, 3 Stanley Cups and more wins in the Stanley Cup Playoff than any other team during his stretch, maybe he was “done”? Didn’t have “it”, anymore? Detroit had its sights set on Steve Yzerman leading the club back to its former glory. Holland spent his last couple years there trading off assets and basically paving the road for Yzerman’s return to The Motor City. Holland would then gracefully step upstairs for the organization that he had done so much to build and win with.
But something funny happened on the way to the Forum…or was that Joe Lewis Arena? Holland decided the fire still burned within, and he instead accepted an offer from Bob Nicholson to run the Edmonton Oilers for the next 5 years. In his 2 years so far, and with his back to the NHL cap wall, Holland has guided his club into the playoffs both seasons. That shouldn’t be minimized, although it is 100% true that the results in the post-season for the Holland-era Oilers are not there yet. But now in the Summer of 2021, with at least $23m in cap space…Holland has a chance to prove that the fastball he used to help build a dynasty before in Detroit is still there. And as an ultra-competitive guy, I can’t help but think that would motivate Ken Holland. A lot.
Some of his detractors rankle when Holland waxes on poetic about his Detroit years. “What have you done for me lately”, those fans ask? A lot of people in this town don’t like to lean on the past. The intervening (losing) seasons have soured more than a few on that act. It’s understandable. But this is the off-season where Holland can silence those critics and even put a punctuation mark on his own Hall of Fame career at the same time.
With a hard, high-heater of an off-season, Holland can turn his 11th ranked but under-achieving Oilers club into a legit Stanley Cup contender. And no one would be able to quibble with that.
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