DETROIT — Ken Holland and Jim Nill put together rosters that made the Red Wings an NHL dynasty and brought four Stanley Cups to Detroit.

Evidently the two veteran general managers aren't done yet.

Holland's Edmonton Oilers and Nill's Dallas Stars will meet in the Western Conference final beginning Thursday in Dallas. The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers face off in the Eastern Conference final starting Wednesday.

Edmonton reached the Final Four on Monday with a thrilling 3-2 Game 7 victory in Vancouver. Dallas eliminated defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas and powerful Colorado to get out of the Central Division bracket.

Holland and Nill played junior hockey together in Medicine Hat and when Holland became the Wings' assistant GM in 1994, he brought Nill into the amateur scouting department. Holland made Nill the chief scout when Holland became the Wings' GM and eventually gave Nill the assistant GM title, as the two worked together for 19 years.

The pair won Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.

Nill took over as Dallas' GM in 2013 and has constructed one of the most consistent organizations in the NHL.

This will be a special series for the two close friends, but it isn't going to hurt their relationship.

"Are we competitive? Do we want to win, to beat each other in the trenches? Of course," said Nill, when talking about Holland before Holland's 2021 Hall of Fame induction. "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."

Nill felt his time with the Red Wings was invaluable in gaining experience and learning the NHL.

“Every day you came to work and learned something new,” Nill said, citing the likes of Jimmy Devellano, Steve Yzerman and Holland, along with players such as Nicklas Lidstrom. “It prepared me for where I am now and I owe so much to those people. The way the Ilitch family operates their franchise, everything was first class. You respect people and we played the game the right way.

“I was very fortunate and happy to be associated with those people.”

Holland talks often about the way Devellano brought him into the Wings' front office, taught him the business, and how he has attempted to do the same. Nill, Yzerman (Red Wings) and Pat Verbeek (Anaheim) all started their front office careers under Holland.

"They knew the game. They're hard workers," Holland said. "Jim Nill is a hard worker. I am happy I was able to help. Jimmy Devellano helped me, he hired me and believed in me."

Western Conference

DALLAS (CENTRAL 1) VS. EDMONTON (PACIFIC 2)

— Records: Dallas 52-21-9 (113 points); Edmonton 49-27-6 (104 points)

— Regular-season series: Dallas 2-0-1; Edmonton 1-2-0

— First round: Dallas def. Vegas in seven games; Edmonton def. Los Angeles in five games

— Second round: Dallas def. Colorado in six games; Edmonton def. Vancouver in seven games

— Storylines: GMs Ken Holland (Edmonton) and Jim Nill (Dallas) were longtime leaders of the Red Wings' dynasty and won four Stanley Cups together. This matchup used to be a common playoff meeting, as Dallas and Edmonton met six times in seven years between 1997-2003. Dallas has won the last five playoff series between these teams. Dallas reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, losing to Tampa. Dallas won its only Stanley Cup in 1999. The Oilers have advanced to the Cup Final seven times, the last coming in 2006, when they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. Edmonton has won the Cup five times (the last in 1990). Dallas' Miro Heiskanen (13 points) and Jason Robertson (12 points) and Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl (24 points) and Connor McDavid (21 points) are likely to provide offensive fireworks.

— Key player: Dallas C Wyatt Johnston. Only 21, Johnston has been terrific in these playoffs with seven goals and four assists. The Oilers must contain his scoring.

— Prediction: Edmonton in six

Eastern Conference

NEW YORK RANGERS (METROPOLITAN 1) VS. FLORIDA (ATLANTIC 1)

— Records: N.Y. Rangers 55-23-4 (114 points); Florida 52-24-6 (110 points)

— Regular-season series: N.Y. Rangers 1-2-0; Florida 2-0-1

— First round: N.Y. Rangers def. Washington in four games; Florida def. Tampa in five games

— Second round: N.Y. Rangers def. Carolina in six games; Florida def. Boston in six games

— Storylines: This is only the second time these teams are meeting in the playoffs. The Rangers defeated the Panthers in five games in the first round in 1997. The Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final last year before losing to Vegas. Florida has never won a Stanley Cup. The Rangers are this season's Presidents' Trophy winners (best regular-season record), and are in the conference finals for the second time in three years and fifth time since 2012. The Rangers haven't reached the Stanley Cup Final since 2014 and last won a Cup in 1994. The Rangers have been dominant on special teams in these playoffs (31.4% power play, 89.5% penalty kill, with four shorthanded goals). Florida has gotten 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) from its mobile, offensively gifted defensemen in the playoffs.

— Key player: Florida RW Vladimir Tarasenko. Will Tarasenko be motivated after the Rangers didn't re-sign him last summer? Florida acquired Tarasenko at the trade deadline, but he's been average in the playoffs with five points in 11 games. But Tarasenko did have three points (two goals) in three games against the Rangers this season.

— Prediction: Florida in six

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