Islanders President & GM Search: Why Holland Seems to Have Said No to NYI

The New York Islanders’ hunt for a brand new President of Hockey Operations and/or General Manager continues to slog along.

It’s been over two weeks since the team let Lou Lamoriello go. Since then, the search, led by John Collins, has forged ahead. Publicly, a lot more has leaked out about who the Islanders are targeting and what specifically New York is looking for.

In the previous 48 hours, Arthur Staple and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic made it clear the Islanders’ top choice is Ken Holland. In addition to him, Jeff Gorton, Montreal’s President of Hockey Operations, began high on the list. However, Montreal declined to make him available.

Yesterday, Staple reported on X that Holland “believed to be a no on NYI job for now.”

So, why is that? Why would Holland turn down a chance to run another NHL Franchise?

Chris Johnston explained on SDPN’s The Chris Johnston Show today:

Why Ken Holland Turned Down the Islanders:

Johnston described the interest in Ken Holland as if he’s the hottest candidate on the market. In truth, that’s how he’s being treated. That’s despite his last Stanley Cup win coming before Mark Streit signed with the Islanders and while Bill Guerin served as the Islanders’ captain. Holland’s long experience makes him attractive to teams, even if his résumé recently is nowhere near as good as the first half of his tenure as an executive.

He failed to win a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers, despite coming agonizingly close last season. Even so, the Edmonton Oilers moved on from him. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings still have not recovered from the end of his tenure. So, a third chance running a team came knocking in the form of the Islanders. Why did he turn it down?

Johnston explains:

“I don’t know if the Islanders are going to be able to lure him there… I think he’s at the top of their list… He can be picky and choosy. I don’t think anybody looks at their roster and thinks ‘they’re ready to win in the near term.’ That doesn’t appeal to Holland.”

Ken Holland turned down the Islanders due to their current roster and overall assets, including the first overall pick. With pieces including Ilya Sorokin, Noah Dobson, Mathew Barzal, and Bo Horvat, Holland decided there’s no clear path to contention.

In essence, Holland may think he’s too good for the Islanders’ job and wants a ready-made contender. Johnston suggested the Kings, losers of four straight first rounds with their best center and best defensemen over the age of 35 as a possible landing spot for Holland.

No, the Islanders roster, as currently constructed, is not a ready-made contender. It’s possible that 2025-26 mirrors this past one, a decent team with some solid parts that ultimately misses the playoffs.

On the flip side, Barzal missed 52 games last year. Dobson had serious early-season struggles that are unlikely to duplicate themselves. Sorokin will be fully healthy from the jump. Add in Matthew Schaefer, along with a ton of cap space, there’s a path back to the playoffs if nothing else. Add in the elite prospects suddenly stockpiling, and it’s not hard to see a path back into contention in somewhat short order.

Instead, Holland turned his nose up at the Islanders. Things could still change, but at this point, it’d be surprising if Holland changed his mind again.

Where Do the Islanders Go From Here?

So, with Holland rejecting the Islanders, what comes next? Johnston listed three candidates who started at the top of New York’s list:

“Holland, Bergevin, and Gorton were at the top.” Holland’s a no. Montreal did not allow Jeff Gorton to talk. It seems like Bergevin is a strong candidate, but Johnston inferred that Bergevin may prefer to stay in Los Angeles if he’s offered the position.

We know the Islanders plan to, or already have, interviewed Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant GM Mathieu Darche. Darche has a strong resume, but there are questions about whether the Islanders want to hire a first-time candidate.

They may not have a choice. If it’s not Holland, Gorton, or Bergevin, the list runs to Peter Chiarelli and Jarmo Kekalainen. According to Staple, Kekalainen and Chiarelli remain unlikely.

Based on the intel, it sure seems at this time that it’s Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche, or bust for the Islanders. It could all change in an hour, but that’s where things stand.