The architect of the most successful period in Detroit Red Wings history is staying put.

General manager Ken Holland has signed a two-year extension to continue on with the team after 21 years in the role and 35 years with the organization that saw the team capture 10 division titles, four President’s Trophies, five conference championships and three Stanley Cups.

The team held a Saturday evening press conference to make a formal announcement.

A native of Vernon, BC, Holland was a goaltender in his playing days, appearing in four NHL games with the Red Wings and Hartford Whalers after being taken in the 12th round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

At the conclusion of his playing days, Holland joined the Red Wings as a Western Canada scout and was promoted to director of amateur scouting and assistant GM prior to becoming GM on July 18, 1997.

Under Holland, the Red Wings found success with lower-round draft picks. Among those taken by the Red Wings during Holland’s tenure include Pavel Datsyuk (sixth round, 1998), Henrik Zetterberg (seventh round, 1999), Jimmy Howard (third round, 2003) and Johan Franzen (third round, 2004).

In the course of Holland’s tenure, the club claimed Stanley Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2008 and the team won a total of 23 playoff rounds. Holland’s teams missed the playoffs on only two occasions – this season and last.

If he were to have left, Holland, 62, was expected to be a candidate for the expansion Seattle franchise’s general manager position.