Former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has joined the NHL’s hockey operations department as consultant, NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell announced on Tuesday.
“We are delighted to welcome Ken to NHL Hockey Operations, where he will provide invaluable insight from his decades in the game as a player, scout and executive,” Campbell said. “He offers unmatched expertise in a wide range of areas.”
Holland joins NHL hockey operations after serving as president of hockey operations/GM of the Edmonton Oilers for five seasons, leading the club to its first Stanley Cup final appearance in 18 years last June.
Holland moved to Edmonton from Detroit, where he served as Red Wings GM for 22 years, capturing 10 division titles. He was a key part of Red Wings Stanley Cup championship teams in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, the final three as GM.
In 27 years as an NHL GM, Holland accumulated 1,145 regular season wins in 2,061 games, fifth most in League history in both categories.
Prior to taking over as Red Wings GM in 1997, Holland worked in a several roles within the organization, including as assistant GM (1994-97), GM of the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate (1994-97), amateur scouting director (1989-94) and Western Canada scout (1985-89).
Internationally, the Vernon, B.C., native has served on several management staffs for Hockey Canada, highlighted by Canada men’s gold medal wins at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Holland also served on the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee and GM Executive Committee, contributing to rules changes like three-on-three overtime in 2015-16.
A goaltender, Holland was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 12th round, 188th overall, in the 1975 NHL Draft. He appeared in four NHL contests with the Hartford Whalers and Red Wings over nine pro seasons.
Augustine named Big Ten second star
Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week on Tuesday after Michigan State’s sweep of Ohio State last weekend.
Augustine (South Lyon) stopped 51-of-54 shots and earned the 4-2 and 4-1 victories at Munn Ice Arena.
The sophomore goalie shares the Big Ten lead in games played (7), owns more victories than any other goalie in the league (6), and boasts a 1.57 GAA (third B1G) and .941 save percentage (fourth B1G).
Only two goalies younger than Augustine have played in games so far this season, Hampton Slukynsky split the team’s six games at Western Michigan, and Nicholas Kempf has played three (of 10) at Notre Dame.
Michigan’s Evan Werner was named third star after scoring twice in a weekend sweep over Notre Dame.
On Friday, he scored the OT winner in a 2-1 victory. On Saturday, he scored Michigan’s second goal in a 4-2 win.
Tuesday’s NHL games
▶Winnipeg 6, (at) N.Y. Rangers 3: Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township) each scored twice, Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce Township) made 33 saves, and the Jets won their seventh straight.
Gabriel Vilardi and ex-Wing Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for the Jets, who have now won 15 of their first 16 games.
Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko scored for the Rangers, who dropped their second straight home game following last Thursday’s 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
▶Ottawa 3, (at) Toronto 0: Linus Ullmark made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season and Josh Norris (Oxford), Tim Stutzle and Michael Amadio scored for Ottawa.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 38 shots for Toronto, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.
▶New Jersey 4, (at) Florida 1: Timo Meier scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to snap Florida’s seven-game winning streak.
Jack Hughes scored in the first period for the Devils, Paul Cotter (Canton) put New Jersey up 3-1 with 15:07 left and Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt each had a pair of assists.
Sam Reinhart got his 12th goal for Florida, and Spencer Knight made 20 saves for the Panthers. Florida played without forward Sam Bennett, a late scratch with an undisclosed upper-body issue.
▶Boston 3, (at) St. Louis 2: David Pastrnak scored with 1:47 to play as Boston scored three third-period goals to come back for a win over St. Louis.
Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy also scored for the Bruins who trailed 2-0 after two periods. Geekie returned to the lineup after sitting the last three games as a healthy scratch.
Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves as Boston won for the fourth time in its last six games.
Capitals acquire Eller for picks
The Washington Capitals have reunited with veteran center Lars Eller.
Washington sent a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to Pittsburgh on Tuesday for Eller, who spent seven seasons with the Capitals and helped the club win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2018.
The 35-year-old Eller had four goals and three assists in 17 games with Pittsburgh. He was in the second season of a two-year deal he signed with the Penguins in the summer of 2023.
Eller has 182 goals and 227 assists in 1,053 games with Montreal, Washington, Colorado and Pittsburgh. He remains a dependable two-way player and penalty killer and is rejoining a Washington team off to a hot start in the competitive Metropolitan Division. The Capitals entered play on Wednesday at 10-4-0, good enough for third in the division behind Carolina and New Jersey.
“We are excited to welcome Lars back to our organization,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said. “This move enhances our depth at the critical center position. Lars is a versatile player that we are confident will strengthen our team’s depth and competitiveness.”
The move could be the first of several for Pittsburgh, which began Wednesday just two points clear of the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Penguins were whipped 7-1 by Dallas on Monday night, a game in which the Stars poured in six goals in the first period. Pittsburgh will host Detroit on Wednesday.
Evgeni Malkin apologized for the team’s performance on Tuesday.
“I want to say sorry to the fans,” Malkin said. “They (watched) a really bad game. I hope we, together, find a good way, win tomorrow and start building the team better.”
Saginaw’s Mangone commits to Lake Superior State
In the first of many moves expected after the NCAA lifted the eligibility ban on CHL players, Calem Mangone committed to the Lake Superior State Lakers for the 2025-26 season. The Saginaw Spirit overage forward made the announcement on his Instagram account.
Now in his fourth OHL season, the 20-year-old Mangone scored three goals on Sunday and has 21 points (8-13–21) in 18 games with the Memorial Cup-champion Spirit.
The Lakers play out of Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and have won three NCAA tournament championships in 1988, 1992 and 1994. The program has produced NHLers Doug Weight, Jim Dowd, Brian Rolston and Bates Battaglia.
Michigan-area hockey schedule
Wednesday
Red Wings at Penguins, 7:30
Rockford at Grand Rapids, 11a
Friday
Red Wings at Ducks, 10
Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7
Notre Dame at Michigan State, 7
Colorado College at Western Michigan, 7
Northern Michigan at Minnesota State, 8
Ferris State at Lake Superior State, 7
Augustana University at NTDP U18, 7
NTDP U17 at Madison, 8
Saturday
Red Wings at Kings, 8
Notre Dame at Michigan State, 8
Colorado College at Western Michigan, 6
Northern Michigan at Minnesota State, 7
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6
Augustana University at NTDP U18, 7
NTDP U17 at Madison, 8
Sunday
NTDP U18 at Youngstown, 4
