Hello and welcome!
First off, before getting into the details of this blog I would like to formally introduce myself. I’m Sean Maloughney and I will be running the show here now and ensuring that all Oilers fans get all the information, entertainment, and pleasure of discussing their favourite team that they can handle. I’ve been writing about and following this team for years and while the recent years have left most fans with a bitter taste in their mouths, it hasn’t stopped me from discussing the team with the wit, enjoyment, and passion that this team brings to me. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of my readers more and you will certainly find me in the comments sections debating and discussing along with the rest of you.
Feel free to give me a follow @SMaloughney and of course follow us @OilonWhyte for up to date news on all things Oilers related.
Now to Ken Holland.
Will Ken Holland Be Successful As The Edmonton Oilers GM?
There is the question that all fans of the Edmonton Oilers are asking themselves right now. The past resume of Ken Holland should be known to all by now. Starting as a scout for the Red Wings, Holland eventually took over as Director of Amateur Scouting, followed by Assistant General Manager before taking the reins in 1997. As GM of the Red Wings, Holland won three Stanley Cups (1998, 2002, and 2008) and was a key part in the Red Wings brilliant post-season run that saw the team from Detroit make the playoffs for 25 straight seasons.
However that era has come and gone and the current iteration of the Red Wings have been another story. Over the past six seasons the team has not made it out of the first round, and have not qualified for the post-season since the 2016/2017 season.
In addition to a number of consecutive poor seasons by the Red Wings, their cap situation has also been a nightmare. Despite only finishing the season with a mere 74 points, the Red Wings spent a total of over 86 million dollars of cap hit, more than any other team in the league. Comparatively Edmonton finished third highest in cap hit spent with a total just over 80 million.
(Cap numbers courtesy of Cap Friendly)
These facts should at the very least give Oilers fans pause and rightfully question the decision to put Ken Holland in charge. I took a look back at the Red Wings last five seasons, both trades and draft record to get a better overview on whether or not Ken Holland has properly navigated the modern NHL.