Ken Holland emerging as candidate to become Kings general manager
Former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland has emerged as a candidate for the same role with the Kings, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast.
The Los Angeles Kings are eyeing a veteran to potentially take over their front office.
Former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland has emerged as a candidate for the same role with the Kings, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast.
“One of the names that is starting to circulate a little bit right now for the Kings is Ken Holland. He was in the mix for the Islanders and I am reserving judgment for where I think the Islanders could be going here,” Friedman said. “But I’ve heard Holland’s name with the Kings and if they go external, he may have a shot here.”
Holland, 69, spent five years with the Oilers from 2019-2024, leading the team to Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final and beating the Kings in the first round for three straight seasons.
The Kings now have an opening after parting with president and GM Rob Blake earlier in May following a fourth consecutive playoff loss to Edmonton.
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Holland parted with the Oilers upon the expiry of his contract at the end of last season.
Before joining Edmonton, the Vernon, B.C., native spent 22 seasons as GM of the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit won Stanley Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2008 under Holland.
After leaving the Oilers, Holland took a role with the league office as a hockey consultant.
Blake, the Hall-of-Fame defenceman whose No. 4 is retired in the rafters of the Kings’ downtown arena, retired as a player n 2010 and joined the team’s front office during the 2013-14 season, Los Angeles’ second Stanley Cup championship campaign.
He replaced Dean Lombardi, who built the two championship-winning teams, as Kings GM in April 2017. Blake led the Kings back to relevance after a three-year playoff absence, and they went 309-238-71 in his eight seasons despite failing to win a division title.
But the Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs five times during Blake’s tenure, winning just eight total games in those five series. Los Angeles has exited in each of the past four seasons at the hands of Connor McDavid’s club, unable to withstand the Oilers’ offensive onslaught.
Now, Los Angeles may turn to the architect of those Oilers teams as it looks to take the next step itself.
–with files from The Associated Press
