Former Oilers GM Reportedly in Talks with One of Edmonton's Biggest Rivals

Holland is on the list to become the Kings' head of hockey operations, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported.

'One of the names that is starting to circulate a little bit right now for the Kings is Ken Holland. He was in the mix for the Islanders and I am reserving judgment for where I think the Islanders could be going here,' Friedman said. 'But I've heard Holland's name with the Kings and if they go external, he may have a shot here.'

The 69-year-old recently completed a five-year stint as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, who reached the 2024 Stanley Cup Final and defeated the Kings in the first round of the playoffs three consecutive seasons, now four including this season under GM Stan Bowman.

Holland, whose Edmonton contract expired after the 2023-24 season, served briefly as an NHL league office consultant.

Holland won three Stanley Cups as GM of the Detroit Red Wings

Prior to his stint with the Oilers, he was GM of the Detroit Red Wings for more than two decades, winning Stanley Cup championships in 1998, 2002, and 2008.

Blake, a Hall of Fame defenseman and veteran Kings executive, served as GM from 2017 through 2024.

Though he brought Los Angeles back into contention for the playoffs, the Kings were unable to advance beyond the first round in five playoff berths, including four straight losses to the Oilers.

Today, the Kings may look to Holland, the architect of the team that time and again thwarted their playoff hopes, to guide them deeper into the playoffs.