Former NHL defenceman Slater Koekkoek reveals how a meeting with former GM Ken Holland made him walk away from the league

[Some Other Flame]

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.

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[tabness]

damn and Kenny was generally one of the nicer GMs to players lol

honestly that comment is pretty mild, what if this dude had a run in with Mike Keenan or something

 

[Avs2022]

Well, maybe not every player who suits up is going to last a long time in any sport.

 

[Boud]

I don't think that's necessarily an insult. He was a fringe guy who could come in a play some minutes and not look completely out of place, but at the same time just wasn't good enough to have an impact on the game.

There are so many players like him. Some who never even play in the NHL and could easily fill in a play some shifts and games. The NHL is a tough league and Holland was very honest and blunt with him.

In your life you need some people who are honest with you. Lucky for him he had someone be honest enough with him and he seems to be happy with where he's at now. Everyone wants ice time and everyone thinks they deserve more opportunities. At some point you need to accept where you're at and sugar coating things won't help.

 

[Mike C]

damn and Kenny was generally one of the nicer GMs to players lol

honestly that comment is pretty mild, what if this dude had a run in with Mike Keenan or something

Or Mike Babcock

I don't think that's necessarily an insult. He was a fringe guy who could come in a play some minutes and not look completely out of place, but at the same time ust wasn't good enough to have an impact on the game.

There are so many players like him. Some who never even play in the NHL and could easily fill in a play some shifts and games. The NHL is a tough league and Holland was very honest and blunt with him.

In your life you need some people who are honest with you. Lucky for him he had someone be honest enough with him and he seems to be happy with where he's at now.

Can I give you my wife's number so you can clue her in?

 

[JoeSakic13]

I’ve heard more cutting comments between players on the ice.

Pretty tame “insult” to make you reconsider your career.

 

[Boud]

Can I give you my wife's number so you can clue her in?

I already have it.

 

[Drake1588]

That escalated quickly.

 

[dahrougem2]

I think Holland is a bad GM and had been for well over a decade prior to leaving Edmonton, but this seems like he was trying to motivate Koekkoek to figure out how to step his game up and make plays.

 

[JKG33]

Seriously, that's a compliment for a fringe NHLer like that. Reading the thread title i was expecting something, I dunno, event remotely degrading.

I'm sorry to hear about his mental health struggles, and I'll leave it at that.

 

[belair]

I don't think that's necessarily an insult. He was a fringe guy who could come in a play some minutes and not look completely out of place, but at the same time just wasn't good enough to have an impact on the game.

There are so many players like him. Some who never even play in the NHL and could easily fill in a play some shifts and games. The NHL is a tough league and Holland was very honest and blunt with him.

In your life you need some people who are honest with you. Lucky for him he had someone be honest enough with him and he seems to be happy with where he's at now. Everyone wants ice time and everyone thinks they deserve more opportunities. At some point you need to accept where you're at and sugar coating things won't help.

Isn't that essentially what Chris Tanev has done his entire career? Elite level clock killer.

 

[Mike C]

I already have it.

Keep the hearing aid volume way down low.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Yeah, this doesn't come across as all that negative to me.

Between making a positive impact, making a negative impact, or making no impact whatsoever, I'd rather be making a positive impact. But no impact and a decent paycheck is pretty great too.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I’ve heard more cutting comments between players on the ice.

Pretty tame “insult” to make you reconsider your career.

Everyone here seems to be labeling it an insult- no one involved said that.

Seems a comment hit him in a particular way at a particular point in his life, that’s all.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Being a clock killer is a pretty valuable skill in the league though, and a very specific role. Not really that much an insult.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Have to love how SK is treating this like it was a shock. There is a significant percentage of the league on the 4th line or 3rd dpair who could have the same exact description. They bust their ass and do everything possible because they they'll make more in the next year than cumulatively over the rest of their life if they stay in the NHL. And most teams don't mind low event type of guys who might not contribute much but don't make mistakes.

 

[Jumptheshark]

This sounds very unHolland like

 

[EXTRAS]

I'd love to get a job in the NHL as a clock killer for 1m per year. Slater should have had better self awareness.

If he quit the league because of that it's probably because he had only played hockey all his life and hadn't had the opportunity to work a 70k-80k per year job as a clock killer.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I'd love to get a job in the NHL as a clock killer for 1m per year. Slater should have had better self awareness.

If he quit the league because of that it's probably because he had only played hockey all his life and hadn't had the opportunity to work a 70k-80k per year job as a clock killer.

AHL players barely make more than 80K and have to suffer things that most office workers don't.

 

[JaegerDice]

90% of bottom 6 NHLers and 95% of bottom pair dmen could be told the same thing.

I didnt listen to the entire podcast, but given the clip, he doesnt seem like he was all that angry about it. It just made him rethink his priorities and find satisfaction and impact in other pursuits.

 

[bleedgreen]

He calls it a beautiful moment himself, I don’t think we’re meant to think less of Holland here. Holland helped him face the truth about his career. String it out for money or move on and do something better with your time. He’s not criticizing Holland, he believed he was being told the truth. Which he was.

Thread title is misleading.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

As a bottom pairing defenceman, being a low event player isn't a bad thing imo.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

This sounds very unHolland like

Why?

Kenny was the GM for both Bowman and Babcock. When Wings players came to him complaining about Babcock he backed his coach and offered to trade players who were unhappy. He also sat there on tv in an interview teary eyed at the prospect of Babcock coaching anywhere other than Detroit.

There may not be many direct quotes out there about Holland but he was clearly ok with harsh tactics.

 

[TheNumber4]

Sage honesty and wisdom from the geriatric Holland. I got no issue with it.

Saying the Oilers season was going up and down like a toilet seat… was a choice though.

 

[Aeroforce]

I don't see anything wrong here. Just making it to the NHL is an incredible accomplishment.

I follow Brendan Perlini on YouTube and he seems similar. He made it to "The Show," enjoyed his time there, realized his days were numbered, and happily moved on with his life.