from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

“I’ve come to Edmonton, we’ve got a great nucleus, and they’ve played hard to put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a playoff spot,” he said. “The last three years I was a seller in Detroit. We made the playoffs for 25 years before that. It’s fun to be in the playoffs.”

Give Holland credit for making the maximum impact with the minimum expenditure. He shored up his team with three acquisitions, yet did not give up a first-round pick or even a single prospect in acquiring left wingers Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis, plus veteran defenceman Mike Green.

The biggest price he paid was two second-round picks for Athanasiou, but the speedy winger is a restricted free agent for two seasons after this one. So he will be an Oiler for several more years, if the team wishes it so.

“He’s having a tough year. We’re hoping … we can get the best out of him,” Holland said. “He’s got great speed, high-end skill. He’s a talented player and he’s 25 years of age — not 21, 22. We’re hoping his best years are ahead of him.”

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