Things are about to get busy for Ken Holland.



Less than one month out from the NHL’s trade deadline, and with the Red Wings sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings, the next 28 days will be rife with decisions on how to handle the team’s numerous players on expiring contracts. And as if that weren’t enough, the general manager also has a choice to make on the team’s head coach, Jeff Blashill, whose contract with Detroit ends after the season.



For the rebuilding Red Wings, those decisions have major future implications for the franchise. With the NHL team off for the All-Star break, Holland addressed those topics, as well as the progress of the rebuild as a whole, in an interview with The Athletic over the weekend in Grand Rapids.



(This interview has been lightly edited for clarity, order and length.)



I guess to start, what’s your assessment at 50 games of what the season’s been like and what it means for the...