Vernon's Ken Holland is California-bound.
The longtime National Hockey League (NHL) executive officially signed on as general manager (GM) of the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, May 14.
Holland has been a staple in the NHL for decades, most recently with the Edmonton Oilers as president of hockey operations and GM.
From 2019 until the end of last season (2024), the 69-year-old orchestrated five straight playoff appearances, including a Stanley Cup final showing in 2024 and a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022.
Prior to the Oilers, Holland was GM of the Detroit Red Wings from 1997 to 2019. He won the Stanley Cup four times with the team (1997 as assistant GM, 1998, 2002, 2008) and led the Wings to the Presidents Trophy four times, regular season conference title five times and won more regular-season games (789) and postseason games (118) than any other NHL team. He is the fifth-winningest GM in NHL history.
He was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020, in the builder category.
Holland will now aim to get his Kings into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season, when they won the Stanley Cup.
In the past four postseasons, the Kings have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, presenting a wicked taste of irony if the two were to meet next year in the playoffs.
“As we did our due diligence, we identified Ken as the absolute best option and acted decisively to make him our general manager,” said LA Kings president Luc Robitaille. “His track record of success is undeniable and after our conversations with him, we were clearly convinced he was the right person for us at this time. He has the experience to lead us on the proper path that will help us win now and compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Holland grew up on 23rd Street of Vernon’s East Hill. He began skating at age six and put on his first pair of goalie pads two years later. The Vernon Vikings of the (then) B.C. Junior Hockey League was his first taste of competitive hockey. He had a brief cup of coffee in the NHL, four total games with the Hartford Whalers in 1980-81 and Red Wings in 1983-84.
He was awarded the Freedom of the City Award for Vernon in 2021.
