Speculation: Holland & Columbus. Columbus & Holland. In it together. How? Why?

[Sheikyerbouti]

He won't be back plain and simple. He hasn't done a good job.

His job was to take this team off the trash heap and win a cup in 5 years. He's almost there. If that is not a good job your standards are way too high. Holland is definitely not in the same class as Zito or Tulsky, but he's done his job


Some key draft picks have stepped up in big roles in this run, and players he's brought in are in important leadership positions. You got to take the bias out of it, ignore the poor decisions, and look at the whole, which is mission almost accomplished at this point.

Knoblauch's hiring was Holland too. Didn't know that until yesterday, but Holland had a former employee in the rangers telling Holland what a sixth sense Knob had with a lineup. Got to take the bad with the good, and Hyman, Ekholm, and Knoblauch are big reasons we turned it around.

 

[Sheikyerbouti]

Broberg and Holloway? Yes promising but you need to calm down. Once again recency bias

recency bias?

It's the semifinals man lol

 

[Oilslick941611]

Oddly enough, Brendan Perlini mentioned McDavid in a "Players I Played With" video and pointed out that he's actually a lot more witty and fun behind the scenes than what he displays to the media.

McDavid story begins at 20:12. The comments about his lighter side are at around 21:30. Whole video is a great watch though.

of course. The poor kid was raked over the coals for a still shot of face at a draft. Of course hes not gonna give media, fans anything other than a stone face.

I don't doubt for a second that McDavid isn't a stilted no fun guy behind the scenes.

 

[Pavel10]

recency bias?

It's the semifinals man lol

Yes and he scored a goal yesterday. Let's pump the brakes. His drafting is abysmal. One game doesn't change that.

His job was to take this team off the trash heap and win a cup in 5 years. He's almost there. If that is not a good job your standards are way too high. Holland is definitely not in the same class as Zito or Tulsky, but he's done his job


Some key draft picks have stepped up in big roles in this run, and players he's brought in are in important leadership positions. You got to take the bias out of it, ignore the poor decisions, and look at the whole, which is mission almost accomplished at this point.

Knoblauch's hiring was Holland too. Didn't know that until yesterday, but Holland had a former employee in the rangers telling Holland what a sixth sense Knob had with a lineup. Got to take the bad with the good, and Hyman, Ekholm, and Knoblauch are big reasons we turned it around.

Yet no one wants him including Columbus. He's gone end of the year. He had the core in his lap.

He's been awful at cap management and, yes drafting. You have to ask could Zito or tulsky done better with the tailwind of McDavid, drai, Bouchard nuge he was handed.

 

[MoontoScott]

Yes and he scored a goal yesterday. Let's pump the brakes. His drafting is abysmal. One game doesn't change that.


Yet no one wants him including Columbus. He's gone end of the year. He had the core in his lap.

He's been awful at cap management and, yes drafting. You have to ask could Zito or tulsky done better with the tailwind of McDavid, drai, Bouchard nuge he was handed.

He's done some good things too but no doubt that "cap management" would be a failing grade.

2025-26 will be a very tight squeeze after they (hopefully) sign Bouchard and Drai.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

Ideally we win the Cup and Holland just retires

He kind of reinforces his legacy and can sail off in the sunset.

Then we can hire a more modern GM that sorts out the bad cap hits

 

[AM]

What a bunch of unappreciative weasels.

 

[guymez]

He's done some good things too but no doubt that "cap management" would be a failing grade.

2025-26 will be a very tight squeeze after they (hopefully) sign Bouchard and Drai.

I agree but if he manages to win a cup then all will be forgiven.

That said the biggest catalyst for this team turning the season around is firing Woody and bringing in Knoblauch. I really do wonder who was the driving force behind that move...Jackson or Holland?

 

[MoontoScott]

I agree but if he manages to win a cup then all will be forgiven.

That said the biggest catalyst for this team turning the season around is firing Woody and bringing in Knoblauch. I really do wonder who was the driving force behind that move...Jackson or Holland?

Pretty sure that Holland calls the shots but no way to know for sure.

 

[guymez]

Pretty sure that Holland calls the shots but no way to know for sure.

There was a lot of smoke at the time of the hire that Jackson was likely the driving force behind the decision.

Here are a few examples....

Jeff Jackson puts his stamp on the Edmonton Oilers with new hires Kris Knoblauch, Paul Coffey

https://theoilrig.ca/2023/11/14/32-thoughts-everything-edmonton-all-at-once/

Freidman....The short answer is yes, I do believe this is Jeff Jackson‘s team now. The longer answer is that I believe the ground shifted under Jay Woodcroft.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

There was a lot of smoke at the time of the hire that Jackson was likely the driving force behind the decision.

Here are a few examples....

Jeff Jackson puts his stamp on the Edmonton Oilers with new hires Kris Knoblauch, Paul Coffey

32 Thoughts: Everything Edmonton all at once - The Oil Rig

Just remember how long it took Holland to can Tippett and it was the first time he had to fire a coach in-season in his GM career.

So to fire Woodcroft 20 games in, as bad as they were struggling, Holland is more patient than that. I think the article @bellagiobob posted the other day about Knoblauch getting hired pretty much confirmed it was a Jackson move as it was he who made the calls to Sherry Bassin as a background check to see if KK would be a fit and could make the jump.

“When the Oilers were about to fire Jay Woodcroft in November after a horrendous start to the season, club president Jeff Jackson called Bassin.”

 

[Jumptheshark]

I think we will be blindside by the person who get the job

 

[guymez]

Just remember how long it took Holland to can Tippett and it was the first time he had to fire a coach in-season in his GM career.

So to fire Woodcroft 20 games in, as bad as they were struggling, Holland is more patient than that. I think the article @bellagiobob posted the other day about Knoblauch getting hired pretty much confirmed it was a Jackson move as it was he who made the calls to Sherry Bassin as a background check to see if KK would be a fit and could make the jump.

“When the Oilers were about to fire Jay Woodcroft in November after a horrendous start to the season, club president Jeff Jackson called Bassin.”

Good point regarding the bolded.
I tried to have a look at the article posted by @bellagiobob but I couldnt locate it in this thread.
Did he post that in another thread?

 

[McAsuno]

EF also wondered about Holland's future with the Oilers too.

 

[Heavy Dee]

His job was to take this team off the trash heap and win a cup in 5 years. He's almost there. If that is not a good job your standards are way too high. Holland is definitely not in the same class as Zito or Tulsky, but he's done his job


Some key draft picks have stepped up in big roles in this run, and players he's brought in are in important leadership positions. You got to take the bias out of it, ignore the poor decisions, and look at the whole, which is mission almost accomplished at this point.

Knoblauch's hiring was Holland too. Didn't know that until yesterday, but Holland had a former employee in the rangers telling Holland what a sixth sense Knob had with a lineup. Got to take the bad with the good, and Hyman, Ekholm, and Knoblauch are big reasons we turned it around.

Don't utter this logic to Pavel

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Reasonable take here about the reality, non-video game reality of life as an NHL general manager. Add to the fact Holland joined this team with a broken Connor McDavid who was beginning a lengthy, new form rehab from a significant injury.

One-on-One with Oilers GM Ken Holland

When Ken Holland was hired as general Manager, the Edmonton Oilers had...

oilersnation.com

This was the roster Holland inherited in May of 2019.
Draisaitl – McDavid – Kassian
Lucic – RNH – Chiasson
Puljujarvi – Gagner – Reider
Khaira – Brodziak – Caggiula
Malone – Cave – Rattie
Klefbom – Larsson
Nurse – Russell
Sekera – Benning
Gravel
Koskinen
Only McDavid, Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse remain from that team.

There are several huge misses by Holland. But also some big hits and continual refinement to build up organization depth while also having young prospects onboard over time as well.

From top 10 lottery team to Cup Final, this has been a long haul building up this team over multiple mediocre management groups. They've now finally arrived among the league's elite.

 

[Paralyzer]

Reasonable take here about the reality, non-video game reality of life as an NHL general manager. Add to the fact Holland joined this team with a broken Connor McDavid who was beginning a lengthy, new form rehab from a significant injury.

One-on-One with Oilers GM Ken Holland

When Ken Holland was hired as general Manager, the Edmonton Oilers had...

oilersnation.com

This was the roster Holland inherited in May of 2019.
Draisaitl – McDavid – Kassian
Lucic – RNH – Chiasson
Puljujarvi – Gagner – Reider
Khaira – Brodziak – Caggiula
Malone – Cave – Rattie
Klefbom – Larsson
Nurse – Russell
Sekera – Benning
Gravel
Koskinen
Only McDavid, Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse remain from that team.

There are several huge misses by Holland. But also some big hits and continual refinement to build up organization depth while also having young prospects onboard over time as well.

From top 10 lottery team to Cup Final, this has been a long haul building up this team over multiple mediocre management groups. They've now finally arrived among the league's elite.

Where's Draisaitl and Gagner?

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Where's Draisaitl and Gagner?

Copied direct from Gregor's article. He blew it haha.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Has anyone else noticed that Ken holland has a very good memory for stats, team records, numbers and all that stuff from the past?

Listening to him in his cup finals press conference he's nailing off some Random stuff and numbers and doing a very good job. Team record from 3 years ago. etc