Mr. Holland's Opus
June 5, 2009
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In 1984, Wayne Gretzky was already well on his way to becoming the greatest hockey player the game has ever seen. That same year, a 5-foot-8 goalie named Ken Holland was well on his way to becoming one of the worst goalies the game has ever seen: four games spread out over four years, no wins, 17 goals against. His pink slip was a mercy killing. But Holland loved the game more than the game loved him, so he took a job as the Red Wings’ Western Scout. This required driving to every frozen bandbox from Chilliwack to Flin Flon, Medicine Hat and Moosejaw -- places where you keep your car running in the parking lot during the game, or else you won’t be able to leave the game. Holland didn’t complain. He humbled himself to learn the art of scouting, and worked his way up the ranks until he became Detroit’s general manager in 1997. The Wings won the Stanley Cup that year for the first time since 1955. But a lot of teams win it once – and only once – like the Ducks and ‘Canes and Lightning – oh my! Winning it twice, in the era of expansion and salary caps, is positively historic. Detroit now stands alone with four Cups over the last 12 years – and soon maybe five. No team in the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball can equal that. How did Holland do it? By using what he learned scouting in those miserable rinks. He had to. The system is set up to prevent dynasties. The more you win, the lower your draft pick. So, after lesser teams have snapped up their “can’t miss kids,” Holland and his staff have to find overlooked gems. Since the biggest and the baddest players are long gone, the Red Wings try to find the fastest and the smartest, the guys who will work the hardest to play for a winning team – not for themselves. Holland and company not only draft for talent, but temperament. The Red Wings’ locker room’s is bereft of egos, and drama. You don’t hear about these guys spouting off or getting in trouble. They found their current 29 players in three states, five provinces and eight countries -- from Alaska to Newfoundland, and all over Europe – even though everyone said you couldn’t win with Europeans. In the Wings’ locker room, you can hear six languages – all of them spoken by Stanley Cup winners. These “leftovers” include seventh-round pick Henrik Zetterberg, last year’s playoff MVP; Sixth rounder Pavel Datsyuk, the league’s best defensive forward; and a third rounder named Nick Lidstrom. He was just 18 when they found him in a tiny Swedish town, where he got so little playing time, the Wings’ scout had to go to practice every day just to see him skate. The scout obviously saw something no one else did. Today Lidstrom is not only the Wings’ captain, but the very best defenseman in the world. Worked out okay. In all, other teams picked a total of 431 players before the Red Wings signed these three. Most of those 431 players are not only out of the playoffs, they’re out of the game. The Wings treat their players so well, they accept less to play here. Last year, star forward Marian Hossa played for the Penguins. They offered him a seven-year contract. The Red Wings offered one. Hossa took the Wings’ offer – and is about to win his first Cup, over his former team.
Copyright © 2009, Michigan Radio
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In 1984, Wayne Gretzky was already well on his way to becoming the greatest hockey player the game has ever seen. That same year, a 5-foot-8 goalie named Ken Holland was well on his way to becoming one of the worst goalies the game has ever seen: four games spread out over four years, no wins, 17 goals against. His pink slip was a mercy killing. But Holland loved the game more than the game loved him, so he took a job as the Red Wings’ Western Scout. This required driving to every frozen bandbox from Chilliwack to Flin Flon, Medicine Hat and Moosejaw -- places where you keep your car running in the parking lot during the game, or else you won’t be able to leave the game. Holland didn’t complain. He humbled himself to learn the art of scouting, and worked his way up the ranks until he became Detroit’s general manager in 1997. The Wings won the Stanley Cup that year for the first time since 1955. But a lot of teams win it once – and only once – like the Ducks and ‘Canes and Lightning – oh my! Winning it twice, in the era of expansion and salary caps, is positively historic. Detroit now stands alone with four Cups over the last 12 years – and soon maybe five. No team in the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball can equal that. How did Holland do it? By using what he learned scouting in those miserable rinks. He had to. The system is set up to prevent dynasties. The more you win, the lower your draft pick. So, after lesser teams have snapped up their “can’t miss kids,” Holland and his staff have to find overlooked gems. Since the biggest and the baddest players are long gone, the Red Wings try to find the fastest and the smartest, the guys who will work the hardest to play for a winning team – not for themselves. Holland and company not only draft for talent, but temperament. The Red Wings’ locker room’s is bereft of egos, and drama. You don’t hear about these guys spouting off or getting in trouble. They found their current 29 players in three states, five provinces and eight countries -- from Alaska to Newfoundland, and all over Europe – even though everyone said you couldn’t win with Europeans. In the Wings’ locker room, you can hear six languages – all of them spoken by Stanley Cup winners. These “leftovers” include seventh-round pick Henrik Zetterberg, last year’s playoff MVP; Sixth rounder Pavel Datsyuk, the league’s best defensive forward; and a third rounder named Nick Lidstrom. He was just 18 when they found him in a tiny Swedish town, where he got so little playing time, the Wings’ scout had to go to practice every day just to see him skate. The scout obviously saw something no one else did. Today Lidstrom is not only the Wings’ captain, but the very best defenseman in the world. Worked out okay. In all, other teams picked a total of 431 players before the Red Wings signed these three. Most of those 431 players are not only out of the playoffs, they’re out of the game. The Wings treat their players so well, they accept less to play here. Last year, star forward Marian Hossa played for the Penguins. They offered him a seven-year contract. The Red Wings offered one. Hossa took the Wings’ offer – and is about to win his first Cup, over his former team.
Today, Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky runs the Phoenix Coyotes, a team so bad they might move to Hamilton, Ontario – while Kenny Holland is the mayor of Hockeytown.
So, here’s to one of the worst goalies the game has ever seen, and one of the best general managers -- maybe even the Greatest One.Copyright © 2009, Michigan Radio
Good blog, as always, but aren't you tempting the Hockey Gods by saying Hossa is about to win one over his former team ? Last I saw it was a 2-2 series and the Wings did not have the same energy as the Penguins. Why not just go buy voodoo dolls of the Redwings and stick pins in them or something, yeesh.
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Touche, Duffy.
I started writing this piece on Tuesday, when the Wings were still up 2-0, and taped it yesterday afternoon.
A bit premature, perhaps, but I remain confident the Wings will finish the deal.
Datsyuk would be a big help, though. Of course, some penalty killing would be, too.
-JUB
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John,
All I can say is AMEN brother! Great Story!
Frank
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Much thanks, Frank.
Always feels good to tell a story about someone who's beaten the odds. Holland's right up there.
-JUB
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Ok, so maybe I was a little premature in my worries. Holy Cow, it's like watching half starved, feral wolverines take on well fed, raised in captivity bunnies ! I should of known better then to doubt you, sir.
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Duffy,
Oh, by all means feel free to doubt away. As Merlin the magician said, "Only a fool never doubts himself" -- or, he could have added, Bacon.
Dead on about the game last night. I suspect Datsyuk was probably felt about 60 percent, played at 80 -- and that's still better than most players' 100-percent. What a lift.
But it ain't over 'til it's over -- and this one ain't over. I stuck to six games even after the Wings were up 2-0, but I would not be surprised to see it come back for a game seven -- though I'm officially sticking to six. (How's that for wimpy?)
On one point, however, I have no doubt whatsoever: Crosby is a gutless, scurvy punk. His behind-the-play whack on Zetterberg. and Talbot's on Datsyuk's ankle, were the stuff of punks. Gretzky did his share of whining, but never that.
'Nuf said.
-JUB
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Of course one always expects a bit of homerism but the way Pens dregs defend Gina and Cindy is beyond me.
What's worse about Cindy crosschecking Z to the back of the head is his punk teammate slashing Pavel's foot.
I've never wished for anyone to get hurt, bad karma ya know, but I would LOVE to see Kronwall lay a Havlat-like hit on both of those two sissy punks.
BTW, great article. I guess all the naysayers about Holland (buying championships, anyone can win with that talent, etc.) are wrong. ha ha ha!
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Thanks, Chris.
And I'm with you: whining is one thing, hacking an injured players' ankle is quite another.
Again: Gutless.
-JUB
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John:
Great to see Ken Holland receive the credit he deserves. I can recall watching Ken play goalie in the NAHL for the Broome Dusters in upstate Binghamton, New York (Go rent Paul Newman's movie "Slapshot" to get an idea of what that was like!) and later for Binghamton in the AHL for the affiliate of the Hartford Whalers. (His best season was '81-'82 when he was 27-13-4 while allowing only 2.92 goals per game)
His management style as an NHL GM reflects his on ice skills from the aspects that he has never been the most talented, but was committed to never being outworked. I'll take the modest, harworking guy anytime over the talented egomaniac that thinks you can mail-in your performance each night.
Congrats on another fine piece and continue to honor those under recognized "good guys" in life!
Jim
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Great story, Jim.
Only proves another point: Just to be the worst goalie in the NHL, you have to be one of the best goalies in the high minors. Shows you how hard it is.
Give me a grinder any day -- on or off the ice. They get more done.
-JUB
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Great Piece Bacon! I was finally waiting to see if you would give the wings some love and you have! If they have room in the HOF for GM's, Holland should definitely be in it, and a firtst ballot HOF, because his work speaks for itself. His coaching hires have been great, Babcock is something else as a coach. I can't rave enough about Holland, but someday he'll probably get big $$$ to leave somewhere else but I can totally understand why.
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Oh and I realized this while reading it again. Sometimes the best players dont always make the best GM's (Isaiah T., Matt Millen) but some of the worst players do (Bill Parcells). Funny to think about that sometimes.
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Ralph,
Good points. Very rarely do great players make great coaches or managers -- Red Berenson being one of the great exceptions.
Good news, there is a wing in the Hall of Fame for executives like Ken Holland. If he doesn't get in, start the investigation!
-JUB
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