Edmonton Oilers hire former Chicago Blackhawks executive Stan Bowman as general manager
The Edmonton Oilers announced on Wednesday that the team has hired Stan Bowman as its new general manager. Bowman will replace former Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who was not offered a contract extension by the team after the 2023-24 season.
“I am excited and pleased to welcome Stan to the Edmonton Oilers,” Jeff Jackson, Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations, said in a press release. “I believe his vast experience and proven success in this role, as well as the important work he has done in his time away from the game, complements our goal of being the best in all aspects of our organization. Through our many conversations, we share a similar vision of our position as a team and what is needed to achieve another Stanley Cup title.”
Bowman previously served as the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks and was recently reinstated by the NHL along with head coach Joel Quenneville and executive Al MacIsaac. The three were banned from holding executive positions due to their roles in the sexual abuse scandal and were reinstated by the league on July 1.
In 2021, an independent investigation revealed that the team mishandled sexual assault allegations made by former player Kyle Beach. Beach was sexually assaulted by Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.
The Blackhawks were also fined $2 million by the NHL, and Beach received a settlement in December 2021.
According to Sportsnet, former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, who co-founded the Respect Group, revealed that he has worked closely with Bowman in recent years. Kennedy said he thinks Bowman will be a valuable asset to the organization due to his “owning up to past mistakes and his tireless efforts to make the locker room/sport safer for everyone.”
The Respect Group is an initiative that trains Canadians about their responsibilities to prevent bullying, harassment and abuse.
Bowman served as the general manager and president of hockey operations during his tenure with the Blackhawks from 2009 to 2021. The Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups during Bowman’s tenure in the franchise’s front office.
