Van Riemsdyk considering Finnish league

The Detroit Free Press reports Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is being recognized next month by the Detroit Executives Association, who named Holland its 2012 executive of the year. He’ll be celebrated at a luncheon Nov. 8.

“It’s an honor,” Holland said Tuesday from western Canada. “I’m fortunate that I get to work in a city that is passionate about our team and our sport, that I work for great owners, and with some of the best people on and off the ice.”

Holland cited owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, right-hand man Jim Nill, and former captains Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom among those people, adding that “I’ll look at this as I’m the person for the Red Wings. I look on it as a Red Wings honor.”

Holland, 56, has been GM of the Wings since July 1997, winning his first Stanley Cup that year as the assistant GM, then adding championships in ’98, ’02 and ’08.

Detroit Executives Association president Al Wood said in a statement that Holland was chosen “because he helped create one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports. … Under Ken’s leadership, the Red Wings are a winning organization both on and off the ice. Their unprecedented success has fueled Detroit’s economy with sellout crowds spending time and money in the Motor City’s restaurants, pubs and clubs before and after games, and their commitment to the community has helped many Metro Detroiters in need.”

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