Red Wings extend general manager Ken Holland through 2018
The Detroit Red Wings extended general manager Ken Holland's contract through the 2017-18 season Thursday.
#RedWings owner Mike Ilitch on GM Ken Holland: "Ken is regarded as 1 of the premier executives in NHL, has been instrumental to success."
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) August 14, 2014
Holland was promoted to the role of general manager in July 1997 and his teams won Stanley Cups in 1998, 2002, and 2008 while making the playoffs in every season of his tenure. Detroit has more combined wins (regular season and playoffs) than any other NHL team since Holland was promoted.
The Red Wings drafted Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg under Holland's watch, forming the backbone of the 2008 Cup victory. He appears to have Detroit stocked with young talent once again after solid showings from Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, and Tomas Jurco during an injury-plagued 2013-14 season.
Holland is the second-longest serving general manager in the league behind Lou Lamoriello of the New Jersey Devils, and the final season of his contract extension will be his 20th in charge of the Red Wings.