Red Wings announce new four-year contract for Ken Holland

By @MichaelCaples –

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland has signed a new contract that will keep him with the Original Six organization through the 2017-18 season.

Holland, 58, has been the Wings’ general manager for the past 17 seasons.

“Ken is regarded as one of the premier executives in the National Hockey League and has been instrumental in the success of the Red Wings over the last two decades,” Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said in a release. “Marian and I are extremely pleased that he will continue to lead our hockey club over the next four years. We feel strongly that stability is key to the success of any organization and having this new agreement in place with Ken is important to the organization and its future.”

The Vernon, British Columbia native took over as architect of the Wings in July 1997. Under his regime, the Wings have won more regular-season games (746) and playoff games (115) than any other NHL franchise.

Holland, who has been with the Red Wings’ organization in various roles for the past 31 seasons, was assistant general manager for the team’s 1997 Stanley Cup championship, and general manager for their titles in 1998, 2002 and 2008.