Kings Hire Hall of Fame Ken Holland as GM

Ken Holland, a Hall of Fame executive and former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers general manager, has been named the new general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, replacing Rob Blake after his departure following four consecutive first-round playoff exits to the Oilers. Holland, 69, brings a wealth of experience, having won four Stanley Cups in Detroit and recently leading the Oilers to five playoff appearances, including a Game 7 loss in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. He is recognized as one of the NHL's most successful executives, ranking fifth in career GM wins, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020. The Kings, who finished second in the Pacific Division with a franchise-tying 48 wins this season, hope Holland can leverage their $26 million in projected offseason cap space to push the roster beyond its current playoff plateau. One of Holland’s first decisions will be whether to retain coach Jim Hiller, who posted a strong regular season record after taking over mid-year. Holland’s mandate is not a rebuild but to maximize the potential of a talented team that has struggled to advance in the postseason.