It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland, and not just because he pulled off one of the splashiest trades of the NHL season. By landing Artemi Panarin, Holland added a bona fide game-changer to the Kings’ lineup - and did so at a price that’s raised more than a few eyebrows around the league.
On the surface, it’s a win for the Kings. Panarin brings elite offensive skill, playoff experience, and the kind of top-line presence that can tilt a series. But while Los Angeles fans are celebrating the move, a different reaction is playing out up north - in Edmonton, where Holland’s past is coming under the microscope.
Oilers Fans Aren’t Letting This One Slide
Ever since the Panarin trade went public, Oilers fans have been vocal - and not in a good way. The frustration isn’t just about what Holland did in L.A.; it’s about what he didn’t do in Edmonton. The sentiment is clear: where was this version of Ken Holland when Connor McDavid was in his prime and the Oilers were desperate for that one final piece?
Fans have been quick to draw comparisons, pointing to past trades during Holland’s tenure in Edmonton that didn’t quite pan out - or came at a much steeper cost. Deals for players like Andreas Athanasiou, Adam Henrique, and Duncan Keith are being reevaluated in light of what the Kings just pulled off. The optics aren’t great, especially when you consider that Edmonton often had to overpay to bring in talent due to location or cap constraints.
But that context hasn’t softened the blow. Social media has been flooded with reactions from Oilers faithful who feel like Holland saved his best moves for his post-Edmonton chapter.
One fan summed it up with biting sarcasm: “Ken Holland when he has prime McDavid: hmm yes Andreas Athanasiou for 2 2nds. Ken Holland when Kopitar and Doughty are hours away from rigor mortis setting in.”
Another pointed to the cost of previous trades: “We had to spend a first on Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, and a 2nd to take in Duncan Keith’s full contract in a flat cap world but now Ken decides to do the smart thing to take advantage of NYR and then give Panarin low term hahaha dude screw you.”
And then there’s the raw emotion: “I hate Ken Holland so f*ing much why couldn’t he do something like this when he was in Edmonton???”
A Tale of Two Tenures
The criticism is rooted in a deeper sense of missed opportunity. Holland had McDavid and Leon Draisaitl - arguably the best 1-2 punch in hockey - and never quite managed to surround them with the kind of supporting cast that could push the Oilers over the top. Now, with McDavid still in his prime and the Oilers once again in the playoff mix, fans are watching their former GM make a bold, calculated move for a superstar - just not for their team.
It’s the kind of deal Holland was known for during his time in Detroit - shrewd, timely, and forward-thinking. That’s part of what stings for Edmonton fans. It feels like a return to form, but one that came too late for them to benefit.
Fuel for a Growing Rivalry
If the Kings and Oilers cross paths in the playoffs again - and that’s a real possibility - this trade is going to be a storyline. Panarin will be under the microscope.
So will Holland. And you can bet the Edmonton crowd won’t let either of them forget it.
The rivalry between these two teams has been heating up in recent years, and this move just threw more gas on the fire. Whether Panarin proves to be the missing piece for the Kings or not, the emotional stakes just got a whole lot higher.
One thing’s certain: the next time these two teams meet, it won’t just be about the players on the ice. It’ll be about the decisions made in the front office - and the lingering sense in Edmonton that they deserved a move like this when it mattered most.