Stan Bowman Vows a New Era as Edmonton Oilers' GM

Stan Bowman made a significant promise upon his return to the NHL, vowing, "These things will never happen on my watch again."

This declaration came as the Edmonton Oilers announced his appointment as their new general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations.

Bowman's return marks the first time a former Chicago Blackhawks executive has been rehired by an NHL team since the 2010 sexual assault scandal involving the Blackhawks was exposed.

Recently, the NHL reinstated Bowman, former coach Joel Quenneville, and Al MacIsaac, all of whom were implicated in the scandal.

In 2021, Bowman resigned as the Blackhawks' GM following an independent investigation that concluded the organization mishandled player Kyle Beach's allegations of sexual assault against video coach Brad Aldrich.

Reflecting on his past actions, Bowman admitted, "I didn't handle things properly; I should have done more. That's something I regret. It's something I've had the chance to reflect on and I've tried to learn from."

Bowman, who led the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015, now takes over an Oilers team that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, ultimately losing to the Florida Panthers in a seven-game series.

Jeff Jackson, the Oilers' CEO of hockey operations, expressed confidence in Bowman's abilities, stating, "I 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."

Jackson, who became the Oilers' CEO last year after serving as Connor McDavid's agent for over a decade, noted that Bowman's vision aligns with the team's goals.

The Oilers recently decided not to renew the contract of their previous GM, Ken Holland.

Earlier this month, the NHL highlighted that Bowman, Quenneville, and MacIsaac had used their time away from the sport to demonstrate sincere remorse and enhance their understanding of the responsibilities of NHL personnel, particularly those in leadership roles.

Sheldon Kennedy, a former player who publicly revealed being sexually abused by a coach and co-founded the Respect Group to combat bullying, harassment, and abuse, endorsed Bowman in a detailed letter.

Kennedy wrote, "I 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."

Bowman revealed that he began communicating with Kyle Beach in the summer of 2023.

Though he initially reached out after leaving the Blackhawks, he received no response until recently, encouraged by Kennedy.

Bowman has since collaborated with the hockey teams at Trinity Western University, where Beach serves as an assistant coach.

They had a positive conversation the night before the Oilers' announcement.

"I don't want to share the details," Bowman stated, "but it was a very encouraging conversation."

During his 2½ years away from the NHL, Bowman worked with Kennedy's group, gaining insights into how he could perform better in the future.

Kennedy attended the news conference to support Bowman, emphasizing, "There was some good that came out of a really terrible situation. I hope this builds confidence around issues that I think carry a significant amount of fear. One of the biggest barriers we have in doing the right thing in this space is not just confidence, but knowledge."

One of Bowman's primary tasks will be securing a long-term contract for Leon Draisaitl, who is approaching unrestricted free agency.

Additionally, McDavid's contract is set to expire on July 1, 2026. Aware of potential scrutiny from fans, Jackson stated, "Always entitled to their opinions.

"They have opinions about firing coaches and making trades. I think the decision to bring Stan in is in the best interests of the organization."