Sports
Ken Holland
born 1955 · hockey executive, former goaltender
Red Wings general manager from 1997 to 2019, architect of the Cup teams of 1998, 2002 and 2008 and one of the most successful executives in NHL history.
- Born
Vernon, British Columbia
age 70- Birth name
- Kenneth Mark Holland
- Detroit years
- 1983–2019
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Holland first reached Detroit as a minor-league goaltender, playing a handful of games for the Red Wings in the 1983–1984 season. When his playing days ended he stayed with the organization as a scout, rising to director of amateur scouting and then assistant general manager, a role in which he won the 1997 Stanley Cup. In July 1997 he became general manager, and over the next two decades he built teams that won Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2008 and kept alive a playoff streak that reached 25 straight seasons. His scouting staff became famous for finding stars late in the draft, such as Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. He oversaw the move from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena in 2017 and handed the job to Steve Yzerman in 2019, later running the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
Highlights
- Red Wings general manager 1997–2019
- Stanley Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2008 as GM (1997 as assistant GM)
- Played in goal for the Red Wings in 1983–1984
- Hockey Hall of Fame (builder), 2020
- Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, 2024
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1983–2017
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
The Red Wings' home during his playing, scouting and GM years; closed in 2017, demolished in 2019–2020.
Worked here · 2017–2019
Little Caesars Arena
The Red Wings' new arena, which opened during his final seasons as GM.