"I understand there is a big challenge ahead, and I look forward to the ultimate goal of building the Detroit Red Wings back to a place where we can legitimately contend for the Stanley Cup," Holland said. "… We have to rebuild this team. We started that a couple years ago, and I'd like to think you can see the makings of where we are going, but it is going to take some time."
Holland said he would address the future of coach Jeff Blashill on Tuesday. Blashill is 104-105-36 in his three seasons.
In 21 seasons with Holland as GM, the Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup three times (1998, 2002, 2008) and the Presidents' Trophy four times (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008), with 10 division titles.
"Ken has been an integral part of creating the sustained success of our franchise over the last two decades," Red Wings governor Christopher Illitch said. "Before he was our general manager, he was a scout and then our director of amateur scouting, where he brought in some of the players who were responsible for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Detroit four times.
"When I fly on an airplane, I prefer to have a pilot who has flown before. Ken has the experience of being a big part of building this franchise up in the 1980s. That's the same blueprint we are using for our future."
Last season, Detroit's run of 25 consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs ended, and this season is the first time the Red Wings have not qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1982 and 1983.
The Red Wings have won 893 regular-season games and 119 playoff games since Holland became general manager, most in the NHL.
Among Detroit's recent draft picks, forwards Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha lead the Red Wings in points and goals, and forwards Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi and Martin Frk are in the NHL after helping Grand Rapids, its American Hockey League affiliate, win its second Calder Cup championship in five seasons in 2017.
"When you look at the great Detroit Red Wings teams of the past, there was a great core who carried the team, and then we built around them," Holland said. "Now we have to draft that next core. I think we have some of those players already, and we'll have a high pick this year, but we also have to draft players who are going to play a role going forward.
"I know our record isn't good, and that doesn't look like we are headed in the right direction, but we have some young players who have taken big steps forward in the last year, and we have more players who are playing really good in juniors and the AHL."
Holland, the 11th GM in Red Wings history, has been with Detroit for 35 years. After his playing career ended, he began in 1985 as a scout for Detroit in Western Canada, followed by seven years as amateur scouting director and three years as assistant GM, when Detroit won the Stanley Cup in 1997.
He was a goaltender, selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 12th round (No. 188) of the 1975 NHL Draft. He played four games over two seasons with the Hartford Whalers and Red Wings.
