LA Kings Close to Naming Ken Holland as New GM
The Los Angeles Kings will hold a press conference on Thursday and are rumored to be naming Ken Holland the new general manager, replacing Rob Blake.
While this has not been made official, Holland’s name is the only one gaining substantial steam.
Holland will likely return to the general manager role after spending one season as a consultant to the NHL’s Operations Department.
Blake and the Kings “mutually” parted ways only ten days ago, but Los Angeles wants to fill that void sooner rather than later with the NHL Draft and free agency ahead. Blake spent 10 seasons as general manager and was criticized for not making it past the first round.
Holland spent his role as general manager between the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers, spending 27 seasons in that role and having success. Holland would win four Stanley Cups and 1,145 regular-season games. He returns to the front office with quite the task ahead of him, rebuilding the Kings into Stanley Cup contenders after many seasons of failing in the first round.
Holland’s top priority should be to re-sign free agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. The 29-year-old made $5.88 million last season but should get a raise in a new contract due to his outstanding play on the ice. He made key offensive contributions and key defensive plays in timely moments last season.
Another move that could be coming if Holland is hired is whether he will keep Jim Hiller as the Kings’ head coach?
The Kings had the best home record this season, but Hiller was widely criticized after the first-round exit for how he managed games.
This could have been Hiller’s last game behind the bench with Los Angeles, but that remains to be seen.
Holland’s arrival could be the first in a number of changes the Kings will face this off-season.
The roster and organization need an upgrade and some new faces.
Making the playoffs is one thing, but being eliminated in the first round the past four seasons in a row is unacceptable.
PHOTO: Jim Rassol/Imagn Images
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