Report: Ken Holland a serious candidate for Isles' GM vacancy

The New York Islanders interviewed Ken Holland for their general manager vacancy, and he's considered a serious candidate for the position, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

New York opted not to renew longtime executive Lou Lamoriello's contract in late April, ending his seven-year tenure with the team. He was also the organization's president of hockey operations.

The Islanders would prefer to hire one person to take over both roles, LeBrun adds.

Holland served as the Edmonton Oilers' general manager and president of hockey operations for five seasons beginning in 2019-20. He and the team mutually agreed not to renew his contract in June.

Edmonton ranked seventh in the league with a 220-121-32 record and .633 points percentage during Holland's tenure. The Oilers also qualified for the playoffs every season over that span, highlighted by a run to the conference finals in 2022 and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

Holland also won four Stanley Cups during his time in the Detroit Red Wings' front office - one as an assistant general manager (1997) and three as general manager and executive vice president (1998, 2002, 2008).

The 69-year-old was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2020.

The Islanders also want to speak to Marc Bergevin and Mathieu Darche, according to LeBrun.

Bergevin has served as the special advisor to the general manager for the Los Angeles Kings since 2022. The Kings parted ways with general manager Rob Blake on Monday.

Prior to his stint in California, Bergevin was general manager and executive vice president of the Montreal Canadiens from 2012 until his firing in 2021. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks as the director of player personnel in 2010.

Darche has been assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last three seasons and has held the club's director of hockey operations title since 2019-20.