Rival GM explains why Ken Holland came back to NHL after Edmonton Oilers departure
When Ken Holland left the Edmonton Oilers organization after the 2023-24 season, many thought it was the last we’d seen from him in the NHL.
Despite some criticism during his tenure as the Oilers GM, he was able to put together a team that advanced all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That, along with his age and the fact that he won four championships with the Detroit Red Wings, seemed to be enough to have him ride off into the sunset.
That didn’t turn out to be the case, however, as the 69-year-old was hired as the GM of the LA Kings shortly after the 2024-25 season.
The decision to hire Holland was a shock to many, though some within the hockey circle weren’t surprised whatsoever. In fact, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving explained that Holland’s return to the NHL came in large part due to boredom of being out of the game.
“I talked to Kenny Holland this year. Kenny’s been doing this for a long time,” Treliving said on the Agent ProvocateurĀ podcast. “That first few weeks when he was out, I remember him saying he put his phone in his golf bag and went and played a round of golf, checked it when he was done, and there was nobody that had called.
“That’s fine for a couple of weeks, but then you get the itch again, right? If you’re in this business, you’re wired that way.”
While understanding Holland’s decision to return to the NHL, however, Treliving, who is entering his third season as the Leafs GM, says that when the time is right for him to walk away, we won’t hear from him in any sort of capacity.
“When I’m all done in this thing, I’m throwing my phone in the water, never to be heard from again,” Treliving said. “When I’m out, I’m out. Nobody will ever hear from me again.”
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