Ken Holland continues to enjoy challenge of being Red Wings GM

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Ken Holland

When Detroit Red Wings fans speak about long time general manager Ken Holland, it’s evident that the cache he once possessed has moved out to pasture. No longer are the Red Wings able to spend money like the New York Yankees in getting the top talent in the NHL to come to Hockeytown, instead having to build from within through drafting and trades.

Holland, 62, has drawn the ire of fans in recent years with his handling of Detroit’s salary cap situation and long-term contracts he’s given out to players who are underperforming. He’s been at the helm as GM for three of Detroit’s four Stanley Cup championships since 1997, though many believe that to be long enough.

Whether or not Holland continues at his post beyond this season when his contract runs through, he’s still enjoying the challenge of leading the storied Original 6 franchise.

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“I’m enjoying the challenge, I have a ton of energy,” Holland said via the Detroit News. “I also know it’s gonna take time, lots of time, maybe more time than some people are prepared for. I understand the fans’ frustration, I got it. When you’ve lived through the things we’ve lived, the playoff runs, how exhilarating it is, it’s frustrating to not win as much. But at the same time, the system is designed for competitive balance.”

He’s also looking ahead in the best interest of the team as a whole, whether he’s the general manager or whomever his eventual successor will be.

“It doesn’t bother me that I’m in the last year of my contract,” he continued. “I’m gonna run this team like I’m gonna be here for a long time. I’m gonna make decisions I think are in the best interest of the Red Wings for the 2020, ’21, ’22 seasons. At the end of the day, whether it’s Ken Holland or whoever, you gotta hunker in with somebody, believe in the plan, and hope it bears fruit. I think we’re bearing fruit. Some young people are having a bigger impact and they’ve earned it. I think the process has started.” 

The Red Wings do have several good young pieces of their team, namely forwards Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou, Martin Frk and Tyler Bertuzzi. All have made contributions to the team, and figure to be in their long term plans moving forward. The onus is on them to get Detroit back to the glory days that the fans are craving. The changing of the guard is near at hand, with Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall on the downswing of their careers.

Holland remains steadfastly opposed to the notion of “tanking”, as in selling off your pieces in a not-so-subtle effort to lose games in order to get a better draft position. He reiterated that he intends to keep the culture of winning that has been built over the past 25 years so that it will be fully engrained into the younger players as they get ready to take the next step to success.

“My philosophy is to try to be as competitive as we can, because I don’t think there any guarantees if you go into these rebuilds,” he said. ”Sometimes you never latch onto those players that turn a rebuild into a powerhouse. So I’m trying to hang onto the culture we have, and in passing that culture to the next generation, the environment is ultimately going to lead this franchise back to one of the better ones in the NHL.”

The NHL trade deadline will arrive soon, and whether or not the Red Wings will make moves as last year remains to be seen. Last season was the first in a long while that Detroit traded away several pieces rather than acquiring. In recent years, Holland has traded away young talent that has gone on to blossom with other teams in exchange for veteran leadership in an effort to continue the playoff streak, though that doesn’t appear to be Holland’s strategy this time around.

“The reality is, we’re either a seller or a stand-pat,” Holland said. “I don’t see us spending any real assets to prop us up and make the playoffs. Either this team will be good enough on its own, or we’ll continue behind the scenes to add to our asset base. I don’t like using the word ‘rebuild’ because if I say that, now you’re saying, ‘Who’s he trading?’ It sends this message that we’re not trying to be competitive.”

The playoff streak ended at 25 seasons last year. Currently, the Red Wings are six points out of the final wild-card playoff position in the Eastern Conference, but they remain confident in their ability to make a run and begin a new streak.

Regardless of what direction the Red Wings move in this off-season, Holland admits to being at peace with whatever transpires.

“I’ve had no conversations with Mrs. Ilitch or Chris about my future,” Holland said. “I’m not concerned about it at all. At the end of season, I’m sure we’re gonna sit down and have a conversation. I’ve slowly worked my way up in this organization (since 1983) and I’ve lived the dream to be a Stanley Cup champion. I’ve been very, very lucky, and at the same time, I’ve been very good at what I do. Whatever happens, I’m OK with it. I really am at peace.”

The Red Wings will resume their season Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1:00 EST.