Ex-Oilers defenseman exposes former Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland for wrecking his NHL career
Photo credit: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/06/27/detroit-red-wings-ken-holland/86445258/
Former Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland's later years with the team are a source of frustration for fans, and now a former Oilers blue liner is exposing him for allegedly ending his NHL career.
The later years of former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland's tenure didn't go well at all, and current GM Steve Yzerman was saddled with multiple terrible contracts and a near empty prospect cupboard upon his return to Hockeytown in April 2019.
Though Holland was promoted to a higher position, he departed the Red Wings just days later to accept the general manager's role with the Edmonton Oilers.
Former Oilers defenseman Slater Koekkoek is telling his side of things and how he believes that Ken Holland essentially ended his playing career in the NHL after a brutal analysis of what he brought to the ice near the end of the 2021-22 year.
I think back at this as just a beautiful moment in my life. [Agent] Ritch Winter was in that room actually, and Ken Holland called us in for a meeting. Ritch was there and we wanted more ice time. I wanted more ice time and I was a healthy scratch a lot.
And Ken Holland looked at me and he said 'Do you know what you are, Slater?' I said 'No, tell me.' And he said 'You're a clock killer. You don't do anything positive on the ice, but you don't do anything negative either.'
Koekkoek then stepped away from the Oilers ahead of 2022 Training Camp, citing his mental health.
Ken Holland recently stepped down as Oilers GM following their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final
Holland, who took the job as Oilers GM in 2019 after Yzerman's return to Detroit, stepped down from the role over the summer.
Both parties agreed to mutually part ways after his contract expired.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 12 | 107 ANSWERS Ex-Oilers defenseman exposes former Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland for wrecking his NHL career Did former Detroit Red Wings GM mortgage the future at the behest of his bosses, or did he act on his own authority? | ||
| He did it on his own authority | 71 | 66.4 % |
| He was ordered to by upper management | 36 | 33.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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