TALKING POINTS: Holland speaks ahead of NHL Draft in Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN -Oilers General Manager & President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland held a media availability in his hotel in Nashville prior to Wednesday's Draft.

The executive touched on a variety of topics including Connor McDavid's clean sweep at the NHL Awards, the 2023 NHL Draft, the status of the roster ahead of free agency, and his goals for augmenting the team prior to next season.

Read the full transcript and watch Monday's full media availability below.

Ken Holland on what Connor McDavid accomplished this year and winning the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award last night:

"Well, I think it was one of the greatest seasons in the history of a player. Was he the fourth, fifth or sixth highest point total ever? When you factor in the way the game is played today, a little tighter checking and the parity in the league even makes it more remarkable. Certainly the greatest player of his generation, and being around him for four years, his drive, his motivation, his determination takes him to another level."

Holland on McDavid's drive to win the Stanley Cup:

"Yeah, I think our whole group is, but certainly he's the captain and the leader of the team. I know that certainly that's our goal."

Holland on if the Oilers second round defeat to the Vegas golden Knights changes their offseason strategy:

"I think you have to put yourself in that situation [the playoffs] multiple times. Along the way, you make changes, tweaks, and then I think the experience of being there in those situations multiple times over ultimately makes a difference. I think we had talked at the year end that I think it was Vegas's fourth time in the last six years in the final four. You look at the journey that Tampa Bay went through. Certainly, that's the journey went through when I was in Detroit a long time ago, but I don't know if it's ever going to change. You just got to be there multiple times, and you keep banging on the door, and that's what we got to do."

Holland on the Oilers upcoming restricted and unrestricted free agents, specifically Evan Bouchard:

"I mean, lots of talk. Basically, it's lots of talk or you have announcement of a deal, so I can't give you a timeline. I've had a number of conversations, but over the last two or three weeks, we've had three, or four talks."

Holland on if Bouchard is a prime candidate for an offer sheet and if it is something that concerns him:

"I can't say I don't think about it. Obviously, if there's an offer sheet given, then we'll assess it at the time. Would we like to get him signed before [then]. I would love to, but it's got obviously got to work for both sides."

Holland on qualifying restricted free agents Ryan Mcleod and Klim Kostin:

"We filed QO on McLeod, not sure what I'm doing on Kostin. The reason being, obviously, being a Russian player, he's had conversations with the KHL. So, I've got to decide here over the next three or four days what we're doing with Klim."

On why he's not qualifying Kostin as of yet:

"It's about the negotiations."

Holland on the draft, not having a first-round pick, and his perspective on the top 10 pick of the draft:

"Well, I don't want to pick in the top 10, I've done that before. I'd rather not have a first-round pick. I think we've got a good team. Obviously, I traded the first-round pick at the deadline for Ekholm. We've got him for three more years. There's a lot of pain that goes with a top ten pick, and then the reality is you never know what [comes out of] the draft, it's a bit of a guessing game. Somebody in the fifth round can be somebody better than the first round. You will know in five, six years. Those are decisions that we've made. We've traded picks, we're in the win now mode."

On the potential of trading into the top 10:

"Just look at history. History suggests it rarely happens. Every year there's all these rumours and saying someone's trying to get up. Does it happen occasionally? Yeah, it happens occasionally, but not very often. We don't have a first-round pick, so the reality of us trying to get into the top 10, it's not going to happen.

Holland on where he sees Philip Broberg and trying to get a young defenceman ice time on a deep blueline:

"You look at Evan Bouchard, where he was when he was 21 years of age, the same age [as Broberg], we were in the Canadian division. I think Bouchard played 11 games out of the 56. He had to kind of wait his time and it's turned out pretty good. I think Philip is a different player than Evan Bouchard. We're in the win-now mode, that's why I acquired a 32-year-old defenceman by named Ekholm at the deadline. That's why I resigned, and made the moves that we made like Kulak. So obviously, it makes it more difficult for young players to play. We're trying to win. What's my message? We're trying to win. I've got to figure out exactly how we get Philip Broberg, from where he's at, to being a regular. I've got to sort that out."

Holland on the potential of using an incentive laden deal to keep a players cap hit down this season, with the cap potentially going up next season:

"Well, the bonuses are going hit the cap next year. It's not like they don't count, so it all depends. Everything's numbers related. You know, it's all numbers related. Then you've got to look at the numbers and see how the numbers affect the team this year and next year."

"I'm hoping it's going to go up $5 million, but if it goes up $5 million and are you talking $250,000 of bonus money, or are you talking $5 million of bonus money? I don't really have answer for you because it's all numbers related."

Holland on if his strategy this offseason is about trying to return as much of the team as possible as opposed to making any major additions:

"Well, I think that's the reality. The core pieces are signed up -- either than maybe Bouch who is kind of growing into being one after the Barrie trade, and McLeod as the third line centre. That's a real important position on your team. And then, I guess my focus really is on probably the bottom six of our team. I thought the bottom six of our team last year pitched in, with everybody having 10 goals. We had really good secondary scoring. I thought our bottom six contributed in the playoffs. We got some goals out of Bjugstad, goals out of Foegele, goals out of McLeod, goals out of Derek Ryan. Klim Kostin had a big night in LA. Now, all those players, Bjugstad was at 450K, Kostin was at 750K, McLeod was at 800K -- they're not playing for those figures and the cap is only going up $1 million."

"We do have some money coming free on the Sekera buyout, on the Lucic trade. Obviously, Stu Skinner is going up almost $2 million a year. He was 750K last year. He's going up to $2.6 Million. Bouchard wants a raise. McLeod wants a raise. So, I'm trying to keep as many of the pieces together, but we're going to lose some players. Maybe it's an opportunity for Dylan Holloway to play a bigger role, and to kind of explore the market on probably July 2-4. I think everybody's looking for cheaper players, or certainly there's probably 10-14 teams that are in a similar situation to us."

Holland on Kailer Yamamoto and if he's talked with him:

"Yeah, I have not spoken to Kailer yet. I'm still working the phones, and I've got to see what transpires."

Holland on not being likely to sign anyone on July 1 when free agency opens:

"I kind of look at July 1 as the people are getting term and big cap numbers. I'm looking for, like I said, I'm really focused on the bottom six for the most part for our forward group. I've got to get Bouchard signed. I've got to get McLeod signed, and then I've got to kind of finish off the pieces."

Holland on what his scouts are saying about the draft with the Oilers first pick currently at 56 overall:

"Well, they believe there's going to be some players in the second round to play in the National Hockey League down the road. We've got to get one of them."

Holland on if the team will draft for need of best player available with limited picks:

"To me, I think you're going for best player available. I think the reality is the 32 players that go in the second round, how many years are they away from playing regularly in the National Hockey League? It's not a year or two, it's probably three to five years. The team could be looking much different in three to five years. I think you're looking for the best player available, the player that's got the highest upside that you think will have the biggest impact on the NHL down the road."

Holland on if he sees Raphael Lavoie competing for a roster spot next season:

"Yes. Rafi had a great second half. I think he scored 25 goals this year, most of them from December 1 on. He's had a tough couple of years with injuries and he got healthy. I believe he's working out very hard this offseason. We're going to give him lots of preseason games because obviously he's a waiver player, so we have to make a decision on him."

Holland on his status moving forward:

"I'm not worried. I told you, I don't invest in green bananas at this stage of my life, so I'm not worried about myself. Certainly my juices are flowing because I think we have a good team and I want to win."

On a possible succession plan:

"That's not really me. That's not really my thing. I just worry about being the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and my day-to-day responsibilities. I have another year to go on my contract. I'm excited. I've got lots of, I call it juice, lots of energy. I still enjoy the challenge and lots of rumours out. Let the rumours fly. I'm trying to win and try to do my job on a day-to-day basis."

If Holland would be willing to stay with the Oilers in a different capacity:

"Yeah, I'm open to anything. Let's see. Right now, my focus, is on the day. Right now until July 6 or 7th is obviously a real critical and key time for any organization. Then my goal is to try to put a team on the ice that can compete with the best teams in the league and worry about the future when, like I said, in the green banana program."