Relationships matter. And experience still counts for something in this world.
After being featured on the short list of candidates for the LA Kings GM opening last week, all indications are Ken Holland will be announced as the man selected to fill the seat as early as Tuesday. In shaking the trees of all our sources inside and outside the organization, here’s what we’ve been able to come up with:
— During an in-depth KOTP episode released late Thursday, it was explained why we believed Marc Bergevin was not going to get the job and how Holland had emerged as one of the leading contenders, along with three other names.
— Holland and Kings President Luc Robitaille met to discuss things, per a report from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun on Friday.
— As of Saturday, team sources indicated to us that Holland had not been offered the job yet, as several other candidates still needed to have interviews / conversations.
— Sunday was said to be a day off for all involved, in honor of Mother’s Day.
— Various reports on Monday, including a tweet by Rod Pedersen indicated Holland would be the next Kings GM. That tweet happened to be from the same guy who accurately predicted Holland would be hired by Edmonton in 2019, so there’s some sort of connection there.
— Late Monday evening, Mayor’s Manor learned that although the deal isn’t finalized quite yet, there is a belief the deal will get done soon and announced as early as Tuesday. It may slide to Wednesday or Thursday based on getting all the paperwork signed off on. However, it’s that close.
Jim Hiller and Nelson Emerson
Based on what we’ve learned in talking to various sources, there should not be any immediate news regarding the status of coach Jim Hiller and/or AGM Nelson Emerson. Although Robitaille indicated last week both guys were under contract and expected back next season, things don’t sound quite as solid at the moment. That’s not to say they won’t be back, but more that Holland is expected to come in and take some time to fully assess the organization before making any decisions about who will fill certain key roles heading into the 2025-26 NHL season.
For some additional context, Holland and Hiller have a prior relationship. The former was the Vice President and General Manager in Detroit when the Red Wings hired Hiller out of the WHL in 2014 to be an assistant coach. Granted, their time together was rather short, as the next summer Hiller left for Toronto.
One other name to keep an eye on moving forward is Brad Holland, Ken’s son. Upon the latter taking over in Edmonton five years ago, Brad joined the Oilers as a scout and then later moved into the AGM role. Even if Emerson stays with LA (in his current role or a different one), the younger Holland could join his father as part of the Kings hockey operations department.
One more connection here… Brad was the Maple Leafs team manager during a few of the years Hiller was an assistant coach in Toronto.
As of Saturday, we had the distinct impression several in LA management were interested in talking with a few AGM candidates around the league — including a few currently employed by other teams, so they would have to wait to engage in any talks. What that could ultimately mean still remains a bit of a mystery. At this point in time, it’s probably safe to assume that Holland as the Kings GM probably has a short shelf life. Thus, promoting somebody like Mark Yannetti to AGM (in a role where he could be groomed for future opportunities) or somehow hiring away another team’s AGM (with the idea they’d take over in a few years) could be the way to go. One recent example where something like this worked was in Vegas with George McPhee handing the reigns over to his AGM Kelly McCrimmon.
Either way, there will likely be many more questions in the days and weeks ahead, as hiring Holland will probably only be step one of the Kings summer plans.
Here are few additional notes from our article last week:
It’s never wise to overly pick apart what you hear at a press conference. We would always prefer to have actual conversations with a person, where ideas can be flushed out more thoroughly. However, in the absence of such dialogue at this time, there was something that Robitaille said that made my ears momentarily perk up. Again, it could be nothing – but he referenced it doesn’t matter how old somebody is. This is true. Wisdom and experience come in all shapes and sizes. Yet it also comes from swimming in the deep end. Holland has been there, winning multiple Stanley Cups. Now, 69 years old — and that’s not old by any means, he just happens to be the oldest on our list — Holland also brings something incredibly important in moments like this… Trust.
Robitaille is most likely to hire somebody he can trust as the next Kings GM. That statement can be taken many different ways, but it boils down to being able to believe in that person at the end of the day. Can they help? Will they be supportive? There may be a myriad of ways to look at trust, but this one is rather easy. Holland was GM in Detroit when the Red Wings signed Robitaille as a free agent. It’s where he won his only Stanley Cup as a player. There’s a level of respect there across the league, and there is likely a trust there with Robitaille that can’t be broken. That’s helpful.
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And the winner is Luc Robitaille.
By picking what likely amounts to a bridge GM given his age, Luc has very likely extended his shelf life into Holland’s successor if he so chooses.
Luc is feeling the heat that just drove Blake to run out of the kitchen.
Vegas only winning one game vs the Oil, might have given these guys pause.
With all due respect to Luc and the entire organization Luc needs to pass the baton.
I hope I am allowed to respectfully state my thoughts as a Kings and MM fan.
Not trying to create work or problems for anyone.
Thank you for another forward looking update.
Lucky Luc is a passive man,and this team needs to be tough like Lou and Sutter were
Wow his draft history is very bad, as is posted all over internet
Luc better not be letting him trade the Kings much better apparatus on that side.
He is going to bring his son in over what we have on that side of things?
Especially because he so old and might not end up being at the helm that long potentially.
It just gets worse, what the hell is Luc doing?
I am sorry.
This ends in the Kings not making the playoffs and the Ducks taking their spot.
I hope and pray I am wrong!
Fantastic update. I think this is a solid hire. For those that don’t like it I would ask this. Who out there has a better resume than Holland and is currently available? He’s everything we needed. A fresh pair of eyes. A history of winning cups. And like it or not he made the final moves that lead to the oilers being a cup contender.
HUGE mistake hiring a guy who literally lived off his european scouts, once that pipeline dried up , he drove Detroit to the bottom of the League.
What saved him in Edmonton was drafting a guy called Connor McDavid that made up for his poor GM abilities.
5 years there left the team salary cap strapped and literally Cup or bust this year.
Luc is sinking this team. Bring back Lombardi…. Please
Really expecting another decade of nothing even if hoping Holland will do well its like TMac all over again unable to win with HOF players. Hextall is who was rooting for or hoping to avoid some others. Holland same guy who gave contract to guy who was bust for LA in Darcy Kuemper or some goalie for reichel with wedgewood getting cut even with abysmal goalies kings had. Quick was so bad won cup with Vegas Pacific then with the lakis wondering if wpould be in minors for rangers won President trophy only kept from cup by scrub goalie rangers started over him.
Islanders closer to cup than la by miles they got Dobson with 1st overall. Broberg was signed to offer sheet did well for Blues played more than 5 minutes 8th overall Clarke. So much like Blake whose best 2nd round pick or d man Faber is playing for wild or Gabe his only good 1st round pick or best forward wins President trophy division hardest in west on Jets.
GM has no blueline with Clarke barely on pp or having hopes to be top pair or number 1 d man. After him there nobody who can hope to be better than a 4. Until mediocre mikey is gone along with spence save yer time and money. Foegle did well wish jeanent panned out better among others. Nice see former or real Kings doing well in 2nd round or playoffs.
Here are three goals if lak serios. win 50 games the division get out of 1st round playing 4 lines with 3 d lines not trying to be a bad little league coach. Team vastly better without drew doughty last few seasons not out of first round since Jeff Carter The Real Deal won them two cups. PLD was the Lucic deal all over again only much worse. Team needs lots has nothing to offer will hope to win draft lottery for a 1st overall as Blake went 0 for 3 drafting top 10 with turcotte the biggest mistake as seider was best rhd. Byfield least had the 2020 bs so scouting games. Clarke dropped to 8th was expected in top 5 like Vilardi so any of us would have drafted Gabe or Clarke there. Kupari over k Miller 6’6 lhd was another gem too. Least traded all that to Jets for nothing when Chychrun was there for much less than even Gavi or losing Durzi among many others all bigger better than spemsey.
Lucky Luc prob needs to go before any real changes. Hopefully Holland gets rid of all those under 6 feet fast.
Big mistake the best person is Dallas Stars assistant GM not a guy who you can’t draft time has passed him by
Kempe is a given to keep, no questions. He plays hard, play with heart, and scores goals. Clarke, Gavrikov, and Jeannot need to stay. Jeannot will have a beter season next, Kings need physical players. Spence should go, he just can’t handle large forwards in this league. I am not saying he is not a good player, but we need bigger defensivemen. Marner definitely is a skilled goal scorer, not sure Kings could sign him. The Kings I think most of all need to think of their blue line as the goal line. Some of these power teams still in the playoffs don’t let the opposition just skate into the zone. GKG…looking for another CUP.