Success, respect for game helped Holland reach Hall of Fame, Nill says

Jim Nill was Ken Holland's assistant general manager with the Detroit Red Wings for 15 years from 1998-2013 and worked in the Detroit organization under Holland for 19 years. They celebrated four Stanley Cup victories with the Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008). Here Nill, the general manager of the Dallas Stars since 2013, shares his thoughts on Holland, now the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, in a special testimonial for NHL.com:

The words Ken Holland spoke when he called to share the news that he'd been selected for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, not long after he found out in June 2020, are going to stick with me for a long time.
"'This is a reflection of all the people that have helped me, including you'," Ken said. He was emotional, thankful, and humbled because he knows how hard it is to win.
RELATED: [Holland persevered, adapted on way to Hockey Hall of Fame]
As Ken's assistant general manager for 15 years with the Detroit Red Wings, working with him on Detroit's management team for 19 years and being his friend, teammate, and colleague all the way back to 1975 when we played for the Medicine Hat Tigers, I was genuinely excited for him to be chosen for this honor. And not surprised.
Ken has respected the game all the way along, the way a Hall of Famer should, and respected all the people involved with it. And when you speak to people inside the game or outside the game about Ken Holland, you learn quickly it goes both ways.
He is respected.
For example, a forward-thinking Holland was the driving force behind the NHL's implementation of 3-on-3 overtime for the 2015-16 season. Another concept he pushed hard for, and one that's now a reality in many locations, is prospects tournaments held before training camps.
Success in the game, which he understands is in no way easy, is the first part of that respect. And the other part of it is how he treats people.
Ken's strength has always been as a straight shooter who truly cares about all people, a true people's person. As an executive in today's game, he has attained the highest level of success by realizing that success is obtained by the relationships that you build and nurture. Through Ken's experiences in life, he knew that success was all about the people you surround yourself with, helping them grow and obtain success, knowing that all will be rewarded in the end. Ken lives by the philosophy that success comes when other organizations call asking to interview his staff for career-advancing positions. He wants everyone to have the same opportunities and success that he has strived for and obtained.
I am beyond proud of my connection with Ken. We first met in my rookie year in the Western Hockey League. I was 17, he was a 19-year-old goalie and was a great teammate. There was nobody more competitive or more passionate about the game than Ken. He stood up for his teammates. He wanted to win, and he would do anything for a teammate. That's in his DNA.
My long friendship and connection with Ken didn't end when I took the job as the Dallas Stars general manager in 2013.
That opportunity came at the right time for everyone and with a blessing from Ken. We sat down and talked about the opportunity, the pros, and cons of it. He encouraged me and supported me regardless of the decision I would be making. And we still support each other. We talk all the time, although the discussions are not always about hockey now that we are both proud grandfathers. As he was considering the possible career move of leaving Detroit and accepting the Edmonton position, he reached out in the early hours of the morning to ask my opinion. We discussed the tough decision as we had always done in the past, going over all scenarios. We have an open relationship that way and always will, whether it is something going on in the business or our personal family lives.
I had taken a similar career path as Ken, as a player, scout, assistant general manager and really learned so much from him, how he interacted with the Ilitch family, [Red Wings executives] Jim Devellano, Scotty Bowman; an impressive team of Hall of Famers in Detroit. Where I am today is because of that learning experience under him.
My respect for and connection with Ken today is much the same as it was all those years.
Are we competitive? Do we want to win, to beat each other in the trenches? Of course. But respect is one of the greatest things about our sport. When the game is over, you're still best of friends. Those are the best of times, when you play somebody you respect, and whether one side or the other wins, there are handshakes after and a respect that goes with it. Ken and I, because of our friendship, respect that as much as anyone and that will never change.
Many of his colleagues and friends know it, but Ken's passion isn't limited to hockey. He also has a true love for golf, which he can back up with a very respectful low handicap. Everyone has a release to get away from the everyday pressures we all face. Ken's is the game of golf. Whether it is organizing a trip to Ireland and Scotland, or a quick game on a local course, Ken's eyes light up during every match. He is famous for the '4-to-5 games' within the game that he plays hole by hole, and his pencil is always sharp.
Because he's such a people person and has such a zeal for life, nobody loves a laugh better than Ken, and there are few who can tell a story better.
And though I mention it last, Ken is passionate about his family. This is no easy business raising a family. He was a minor-league goalie. He paid his dues. He was a scout, always on the road, more dues paid. That's not easy on families, but here he is, surround by his lovely wife, Cindi, their family, and friends and on the verge of being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. And that's a great story in itself.