GDT: Around The League 24/25. Parity, blessed parity.

[TheNumber4]

A little info on the Koekkoek story:

Former Oilers defenseman reveals the words from Ken Holland that ended his career

He played in two seasons with the Oilers, only a total of 37 games, before calling it a career.

www.yardbarker.com

The article kind of grossly misinterpets that exchange. Holland didn’t mean it as an insult. Just came off as brutal honesty to me. And if you listen to KK response, I don’t think he took it as an insult, but used the comment as a chance to reevaluate life.

 

[Oilhawks]

The article kind of grossly misinterpets that exchange. Holland didn’t mean it as an insult. Just came off as brutal honesty to me. And if you listen to KK response, I don’t think he took it as an insult, but used the comment as a chance to reevaluate life.

Yeah, this is how I read that as well.

 

[TheNumber4]

Yeah, this is how I read that as well.

Yeh it was posted on the mains as well. To my surprise, no one is giving Holland or the Oilers the gears for that comment.

Kinda shows KK was signed as just a filler type guy though, and maybe Holland didn’t see upward potential there though. But that’s another discussion.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Man I haven’t seen this type of vitriol towards a team since…well…us. Circa 2012-2014

We were damn lucky to win the McDavid lottery in 2015. If we didn't this would probably be us.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

We were damn lucky to win the McDavid lottery in 2015. If we didn't this would probably be us.

Draisaitl alone would probably keep us out of the basement but yeah. Maybe we'd fluke into the playoffs once but there would more likely be 2 straight decades of darkness instead of 1 if we don't win that lottery. Still, gotta feel for Sabers fans.

 

[TB12]

The article kind of grossly misinterpets that exchange. Holland didn’t mean it as an insult. Just came off as brutal honesty to me. And if you listen to KK response, I don’t think he took it as an insult, but used the comment as a chance to reevaluate life.

Yeah, this is how I read that as well.

This. You have to be honest with athletes. Maybe the wording wasn't absolutely perfect but what is Holland supposed to say to players? KK asked why he was getting scratched and he was honest with him.

Mental health issues suck but I'm unsure how being honest with a player isn't the correct approach. This "writer" of the article takes a weird slant on the whole thing and honestly misinterprets a lot of it. Exactly what I'd expect from that quality of website.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Draisaitl alone would probably keep us out of the basement but yeah. Maybe we'd fluke into the playoffs once but there would more likely be 2 straight decades of darkness instead of 1 if we don't win that lottery. Still, gotta feel for Sabers fans.

Draisatl has definitely forged his own identity but McDavid had his own hand in that too. I remember his rookie campaign and how not ready he was no matter how much Oilers brass wanted to believe otherwise.

It's tough to say how far Draisatl would've come without McDavid.

 

[North]

This. You have to be honest with athletes. Maybe the wording wasn't absolutely perfect but what is Holland supposed to say to players? KK asked why he was getting scratched and he was honest with him.

Mental health issues suck but I'm unsure how being honest with a player isn't the correct approach. This "writer" of the article takes a weird slant on the whole thing and honestly misinterprets a lot of it. Exactly what I'd expect from that quality of website.

My question is was Holland aware of his mental health issues?

Maybe if he was he would have been a little less blunt but ultimately as a player you usually already know why you’re not playing more. If you don’t want the truth, don’t ask the question.

 

[TB12]

My question is was Holland aware of his mental health issues?

Maybe if he was he would have been a little less blunt but ultimately as a player you usually already know why you’re not playing more. If you don’t want the truth, don’t ask the question.

That's a good question. Sounds like KK was keeping it to himself but who knows? I know he did seek help eventually, but that seems like it was on his own. Still so much stigma around MH, especially in pro sports. Sad if he didn't feel he could reach out to the team for help.