Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson addresses 'amicable' split with GM Ken Holland

Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson said that it was “an amicable parting of the ways” with GM Ken Holland after five years with the team, according to Jim Matheson of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. Jackson on Thursday said, “It’s not a surprise to Ken and me that we mutually decided this was the best thing. He was ready to move on.” Holland “wasn’t offered a contract extension” before parting ways, but if there was “no succession plan in place with anybody in particular,” Jackson says that Holland and he “were on the same wave length during the season.” Jackson said, “We sort of agreed on this from when I got hired. Ken had one year left, we would work together closely, we had a great relationship, we were very collaborative.” He added, “It was discussed that this was what he wanted.” Jackson said that he “wants no part of the GM job going forward,” but will be the “de facto GM” at the draft and when free agency opens July 1 -- a spot he is “comfortable with” being Oilers C Connor McDavid’s former agent (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/27).