Bob Duff: Holland's Legacy As GM It's easy to criticize Ken Holland's latter work as GM of the Detroit Red Wings but it's folly to suggest he wasn't a key part of their success.

Good blog!

His free agent signings and extensions were bad (not all of them, but a good portion of them). Wouldn’t you agree though that they’re somewhat brought on by an unprecedented number of players leaving the team for nothing via free agency / injury / retirement? Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Holmstrom, Rafalski, Osgood, Cleary, Draper, Samuelsson, etc just a ton of good players that left with no return

I also think his more recent trade history, I believe the last 3 years, has been pretty decent. That Tatar trade looked like a big win

He was at the mercy of ownership to keep the playoff streak going and then the new building couldnt have a team on a rebuild, so that would explain some bad deals. He understood the sacrifice to make to his record for the owners gain. One could argue yzerman left tampa with a team that cant win past the regular season lacking those core playoff players. Its all in how you chose to look at it.

His free agent signings and extensions were bad (not all of them, but a good portion of them). Wouldn’t you agree though that they’re somewhat brought on by an unprecedented number of players leaving the team for nothing via free agency / injury / retirement? Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Holmstrom, Rafalski, Osgood, Cleary, Draper, Samuelsson, etc just a ton of good players that left with no return

I also think his more recent trade history, I believe the last 3 years, has been pretty decent. That Tatar trade looked like a big win
- WSCTeton17

I think the issues with those players (with obviously a few exceptions) is that when they "left" most of them no longer had any real value. they were either too old, no longer the same level of player they were in the past, or both. I think the issue with Holland was that he failed to realize that the "contender days" were in the past, and seemed obsessed with the playoff streak, so instead of moving some of those players when they still had value, he clung to them, and brought in other guys, in order to eek into the playoffs. realistically, the wings rebuild probably should have started 3-4 years before it actually did.

I think the issues with those players (with obviously a few exceptions) is that when they "left" most of them no longer had any real value. they were either too old, no longer the same level of player they were in the past, or both. I think the issue with Holland was that he failed to realize that the "contender days" were in the past, and seemed obsessed with the playoff streak, so instead of moving some of those players when they still had value, he clung to them, and brought in other guys, in order to eek into the playoffs. realistically, the wings rebuild probably should have started 3-4 years before it actually did.
- sensarmy_11

The day after Lidstrom retired to be exact.

The day after Lindstrom retired to be exact.
- RafiDRW

I expect better from you

The day after Lindstrom retired to be exact.
- RafiDRW

Willie?

I expect better from you
- Feds91Stammer

(frank)ing auto correct. This damn phone should know better. Fixed.

(frank)ing auto correct. This damn phone should know better. Fixed.
- RafiDRW

- Feds91Stammer

At least Holland didn’t wait for Lindstrom to retire from the Wings organization in 15 years.

At least Holland didn’t wait for Lindstrom to retire from the Wings organization in 15 years.
- RafiDRW

Gustav?

Gustav?
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah

Duff's Legacy As Hockey Buzz Red Wings blogger: Horrible