Pierre LeBrun, most recently of The Athletic, wrote yesterday about two potential veteran GMs in their final contract year: St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong and Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland. LeBrun implied that it is unusual for GMs to play out the final year of their deal without an extension if they plan to stay with the team.
The two GMs might have to dust off their resumes, but for two very different reasons. Armstrong has officially helmed the Blues since 2013, but unofficially ran things since 2010. And while Armstrong has led the Blues to six straight playoff appearances, the team has yet to make the Stanley Cup Finals. Pressure is mounting within the franchise as it is now 47 years since the Blues made the Finals. If Armstrong’s contract is not renewed, it will be because the organization feels Armstrong fails to make the final push.
At the other end of the spectrum, Ken Holland is on the hot seat after recent disappoints mar his winning history. Ascending to GM before the 1997-98 season, Holland has led the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup victories and four Finals appearances overall. More importantly, up until last season the Red Wings never failed to qualify for the playoffs. All that changed when the team went 33-36-13 and finished last in its division. To be fair, Holland will not lose his job for one disappointing season, but rather for failing to continually restock the organization after its core stars aged. It is not an easy task to replenish an organization when a team routinely drafts near the bottom, but the Red Wings may want new blood to kickstart a rebuild.
Both these GMs have impeccable pedigree, and neither will be without work for long—if at all. But both teams may want to move in a different direction after failing to accomplish short-terms goals in the past few seasons. Maybe both GMs sign extensions, but the Blues and Red Wings would have reason to move on if they do not.
Holland is done but Blues should keep Armstrong
Hollnd is gone but he’ll be back in the league somewhere. I don’t think anyone could have taken the Red Wings into the cap era and have better results than he had. He milked that team for all it was worth and it only just now has fallen apart. It’s not really Hollands fault that the league said you can’t take Illitch money and buy championships anymore.
Except Holland gave out loyalty contracts as if there was no cap, and now the Wings are screwed because of it. Now they may lose AA for the time being because of it. Helm, Abdelkader, Mrazek, Howard, Ericsson, Nyquist. (Who did I miss?) All overpaid contracts that have a long way to go and will hurt the Wings. Holland is responsible. The only caveat is that Mr. I. may have influenced those signings. He showed loyalty to a fault. A trait that doesn’t work in the cap world.
Tigers should have thrown in Holland in one of their recent trades.
Hey Dog, nobody would have taken Holland in any type of trade. Who would have wanted him? Outstanding and funny comment anyway!