Ken Holland will not be back as Oilers GM next season. The Oilers confirmed Holland’s departure in a statement on Thursday.
It was a mutual decision for Holland not to return, according to the statement.
“Over the past five seasons as General Manager, Ken has not only built the Edmonton Oilers into one of the NHL’s best teams, but he has also established a deeply rooted foundation of success and a culture of winning that will continue well into the future,” said Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson.
“Thanks in large part to Ken’s outstanding work, Edmonton has become a destination city for players around the National Hockey League.”
Holland came to the Oilers in 2019, a team mired in bad contracts and questionable trades executed by former GM Peter Chiarelli. As well, the team had made the playoffs only once in the four years under Chiarelli.
Under Holland’s leadership, the Oilers qualified for the playoffs five times, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions the last three seasons. Notable roster moves Holland made include signing Zach Hyman as a free agent and acquiring Mattias Eckholm in a trade.
Jackson said in a news conference that he has identified candidates and has begun reaching out to them.
