Former Oilers GM Ken Holland finds himself a new job with the NHL

The last time fans saw Ken Holland, he was holding court during the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. Soon after, the worst-kept secret in the world was confirmed, as it was announced he would not return as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the 2024-25 season.

Since his departure from Edmonton, there has been plenty of speculation about what Holland would do next/where he would end up. Well, now we have our answer.

As announced on Tuesday by the league's public relations department, Holland has joined the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department as a Consultant. The hiring was confirmed by NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, who said:

"We are delighted to welcome Ken to NHL Hockey Operations, where he will provide invaluable insight from his decades in the game as a player, scout and executive. He offers unmatched expertise in a wide range of areas."

A true love for the game of hockey

You wouldn't have blamed the 69-year-old if he had decided to step away from the game altogether, after a long and successful association with the NHL lasting five decades. The fact that he still wants to be involved speaks volumes about his passion for hockey, because he certainly doesn't need the money!

From an Oilers' perspective, it was of course a shame that Holland couldn't have left the team with the ultimately prize in hockey as his parting gift. In the end though, they came up just one win/two goals short of winning their first Stanley Cup since all the way back in 1989-90.

The Vernon, British Columbia native faced plenty of criticism and pressure during his time in Edmonton, which is what you have to expect when you are working for a team with one of the most passionate fan bases in all of hockey. For what it's worth though he did help lead the Oilers to the playoffs in each of his five seasons, albeit ultimately without claiming the Holy Grail of hockey.

No matter what the opinion is of Holland's time with the Oilers, his overall reputation is still a positive one from his time in the NHL. He won four Stanley Cups while with the Detroit Red Wings, including three as their general manager, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder as part of the 2020 class.

Holland is well thought-of around the NHL and has always been heavily involved, including serving time on the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee and General Manager Executive Committee. We're sure Oilers fans everywhere will offer him the best of luck in his new role, with some perhaps even wishing he was still in Edmonton.

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