The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly made hired a new general manager. Reports are emerging the Ken Holland has been hired as the team’s next GM. News first emerged on Monday afternoon, but details have yet to be finalized. This news came via Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The Kings are closing in on Ken Holland as their next GM, per @FriedgeHNIC. pic.twitter.com/k4N2RdquoU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 13, 2025
Ken Holland Hired as New General Manager
Holland returns to a GM post after a year working in the NHL’s Operations Department as a consultant. He was general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, but his contract was not renewed. The 69-year-old had been a GM for 27 seasons between the Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.
He had won four Stanley Cups and was a winner of 1,145 regular-season games. Holland was also a former goaltender in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers and the Red Wings before taking up a career in management.
The Vernon, British Columbia native now takes over a team that has beaten four times in a row by the team he used to be a GM of. Holland was the Oilers’ general manager for three of those series victories.
What It Means
He takes over for Rob Blake, who mutually parted ways on May 5 after the team’s fourth consecutive first-round exit versus the Oilers. The former Kings blueliner had led the front office for eight seasons. However, Los Angeles didn’t win a playoff series in his tenure.
News of interest in Holland was first reported by Friedman on the May 5 edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast. He’ll now try to overcome one of this former teams that has been a thorn in the Kings’ side for a number of seasons.
Los Angeles will have a projected $23 million in salary cap space in the off-season. However, the team needs to find a way to Vladislav Gavrikov and forward Andrei Kuzmenko. Both of these players are unrestricted free agents.
Main photo by: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
