Sportsnet is reporting that Edmonton Oilers president of hockey ops and general manager Ken Holland told the media that the long-time NHL executive intends to honor the final season of his five-year contract. Holland added that he isn’t sure how long he will stay in the role but he has unfinished business.
Edmonton has been a disappointment in each of the four seasons that Holland has been at the helm, they’ve qualified for the post season all four years, however they’ve only advanced past the second round once. The Oilers had another strong regular season this year going 50-23-9, however they were ousted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round in six games.
Holland came into the organization with a lot of fanfare after leading the Detroit Red Wings to multiple Stanley Cups in his time in the motor city. However, in Edmonton he has been unable to build around the two best players in the game in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Holland has never been able to solidify Edmonton’s goaltending which was once again a big part of their undoing in the playoffs. Jack Campbell was brought in from the Toronto Maple Leafs on a five year $25MM contract, but he failed to live up to expectations. Stuart Skinner was fine in the regular season but the young netminder crumbled under the postseason pressure and was yanked several times after putting up an .883 save percentage.
Edmonton has also struggled to build up depth scoring beyond their top six. McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins did the heavy lifting this year, but the bottom six was a black hole. Warren Foegele but up 28 points in 67 games but beyond that there wasn’t much.
Holland will have his work cut out for him as he tries to give Edmonton another kick at the can. But given their lack of success in the postseason, fans are getting antsy as the Oilers enter the last couple years of McDavid and Draisaitl’s current contracts.
Wheeew! Thanks, Ken, I can now say I’m not nearly as devastated as I was an hour or so ago…
Why? He’s really not a good GM. Left the Wings in shambles and Yzerman is cleaning up his mess. Good luck Edmonton you’ll need it!!
You got that right, no prospects in the system, terrible contracts, everyone past their prime, lost multiple trades also.
Yes it might look like that but you have to remember the owner of all the red wings and tigers was trying to win one more championship before he died. This caused both franchises to enter into lengthy rebuilds that both teams are still struggling to get out of
Please come to the leafs after this season !!!
Be careful what you wish for.
To the chagrin of many Oiler fans.
This is devastating news for the Oiler fanbase.