Detroit Red Wings: Three players Ken Holland might like in Edmonton

Although the Detroit Red Wings would have preferred if Ken Holland stayed with the organization helping Steve Yzerman rebuild the franchise, the team could have a new trade partner now that he’s in Edmonton as the Oilers new GM & President of Hockey Operations.

I’m sure in a perfect world Steve Yzerman would have loved it if Ken Holland stayed on in his newly appointed so-called “promotion” as a senior advisor with the Detroit Red Wings.  He held the position for all but three weeks before accepting the vacant General Manager’s job with the Edmonton Oilers.  He will also enjoy holding the title of President of Hockey Operations.

It’s apparent that Holland wasn’t all for landing Steve Yzerman or he wouldn’t have skipped town so fast.  I noticed during Yzerman’s press conference Holland didn’t seem overly excited about his new “promotion.”  After Edmonton hired him, he mentioned he knew his job in Detroit was in serious jeopardy when Steve abruptly stepped down in Tampa Bay.

It appears Chris Ilitch forced Holland out in favor of Yzerman and for that, I commend him for having the guts to make such a move.  Mike Ilitch was loyal to a fault, a wonderful owner that was willing to spend money on his sports teams to land a championship.  It worked over and over again for the Wings but didn’t work out for the Tigers.  If there were only ONE person, Mike would have moved Holland for it would have been Yzerman.  I’m thrilled Chris understood that the franchise needed a culture change and made a move.

This could lead to more; the Edmonton Oilers could now become a new trade partner with the Detroit Red Wings.  Although I don’t expect Ken Holland to make many of the same mistakes that he did in Detroit by signing plenty of average players to lucrative long-term deals, but there should be a few players Holland would like to add from his old club.  We take a look at who he may have his eyes on in Detroit.