The Edmonton Oilers hired Stan Bowman as general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations on Wednesday, making him the first former Chicago Blackhawks executive re-hired by an NHL team since the team鈥檚 2010 sexual assault scandal came to light in recent years.
Bowman, coach Joel Quenneville and Al MacIsaac, who also worked in Chicago鈥檚 front office, earlier this month. as Chicago鈥檚 GM in 2021 after an independent investigation found the organization mishandled the allegations made by player Kyle Beach by video coach Brad Aldridge.
Bowman, 51, ran the Blackhawks when they won the Stanley Cup in 鈥�10, 鈥�13 and 鈥�15. He takes over the Oilers following their trip to the final in which they lost to Florida in seven games.
鈥淚 believe his vast experience and proven success in this role, together with the important work he has done in his time away from the game, fits our goal of being best in class when it comes to all facets of our organization,鈥� CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said. 鈥淭hrough our many conversations, we share a common vision of where we are as a team and what is required to achieve another Stanley Cup title.鈥�
Jackson, hired last year after spending more than a decade as Connor McDavid鈥檚 agent, was asked July 1 about Bowman being a candidate for the job after the team did not renew GM Ken Holland鈥檚 contract.
鈥淚 mean, Stan鈥檚 obviously a long time GM, successful, and the NHL reinstated all three of the guys today,鈥� Jackson said at the time. 鈥淚鈥檓 running a bit on fumes here because of the schedule with the playoffs and then the draft, then free agency, so I haven鈥檛 given any of it any thought, to be honest. I鈥檝e got to sort of decompress for a couple days, and then I鈥檝e got to move forward with my GM search. To be honest, I can鈥檛 comment right now.鈥�
Earlier that day, the league said in a statement that Bowman, Quenneville and MacIsaac each 鈥渉as acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.鈥�
Former player Sheldon Kennedy, who went public about being sexually abused by a coach and has since co-founded the Respect Group to train people to help prevent bullying, harassment and abuse, endorsing Bowman and explaining the work he has done in recent years.
鈥淚 believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization due to his acknowledgment of past mistakes and his relentless efforts to make the locker room/game safer for everyone,鈥� Kennedy wrote. 鈥淗e possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area. I feel building a strong and healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe Stan will carry this message within the hockey eco system, which can only help.鈥�
Kennedy added that he believes Bowman would do everything in his power to make sure what happened to Beach will not happen to anyone else.
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