Stan Bowman named Edmonton Oilers general manager

 

Former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is the Edmonton Oilers' new general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations, the team announced Wednesday morning.

"With his experience as a general manager and success in Chicago, having won three cups during his tenure there, having gone through and learned a lot about himself and about the need to try to make a difference in hockey culture, I just kept coming back to: He was the guy," Oilers CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said later during a press conference in Edmonton.

Bowman, who resigned in Chicago in 2021 after an investigation into the team's handling of sexual assault allegations against video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010, was only reinstated by the National Hockey League on July 1 and eligible to sign with teams on July 10.

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He told reporters he was honoured "to be able to restart" his hockey career with such an opportunity as working with a Stanley Cup-contending team and stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

"I've learned some things I didn't know and I've learned ways that I could do a better job in the future. And I can tell you without a doubt that those things will never happen on my watch again. I'm looking forward to a chance to make a difference in the organization."

Kennedy backs Bowman

Since resigning in Chicago, Bowman has been working with ex-NHLer Sheldon Kennedy on a sports team culture program which saw him work "basically full time" for six months with Kennedy's organization, Respect Group. Kennedy has dedicated his post-NHL career to child sexual abuse education and advocacy. He went public as a victim of sexual abuse by a coach in the 90s.

Last week, amid speculation that Oilers management was talking to Bowman, Kennedy endorsed Bowman's hiring anywhere.

He attended the Oilers' press conference on Wednesday to reiterate his confidence in Bowman's commitment to change.

"I believe (the Oilers have) got somebody that is very knowledgeable about very sensitive, important issues that have huge impact if they're not dealt (with) properly and I think that's an asset. And I believe that Stan's a guy that will carry that conversation, not just within the Oilers organization, but outside the Oilers organization and throughout the hockey ecosystem and beyond," Kennedy said.

Jackson called Sheldon's endorsement integral to his decision to sign Bowman.

Jackson and Bowman also told media they had spoken to and had "encouraging" conversations with Kyle Beach, the only named player of two who came forward as victims in the Blackhawks scandal.

The identity and story of the second victim, a high schooler who was assaulted by Aldrich after he left the Blackhawks in 2010, has not been made public, as he signed a non-disclosure agreement when settling a lawsuit with the team.

When asked if they had also tried to speak to the second victim, Bowman did not say and Jackson said he did not know who the person is.

Actions over words

Jackson said he was not worried about early criticism of Bowman's hiring.

"My job is to try to make an elite organization and have people that are collaborative and progressive and good people and I think Stan is all of those things," he said, also noting he consulted team owner Daryl Katz and some other Oilers Entertainment Group senior management, but not the players.

"I think the decision to bring Stan in is in the best interest of the organization for a number of reasons."

Among those watching how Bowman's tenure goes is Mary Jane James, CEO of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton.

"I do believe people should be given a chance to redeem themselves. And if that's what (the Oilers) are doing by offering Stan Bowman a job, I say, OK, let's wait and see," James told CTV News Edmonton.

"It's not what (Bowman) did today; it's what he's going to do going forward. It's how he's going to demonstrate to Kyle Beach and John Doe #2 that he really is sorry and that he wants to move forward and make change."

She's said this applies to the Oilers franchise, as well.

"(The team needs) to demonstrate to the community, to their fans, to the victims, everyone, that they are going to take a leading role in ensuring our community and our fanbase and our players are safe… But that when it does occur – God forbid, I know it will – again, that they don't ignore it. That they don't mismanage it. That they don't trivialize it," she said.

Kennedy said he told Bowman, "You're not going to bluff your way through this. People don't buy that stuff anymore. You're going to have to walk the walk."

Kennedy added, "To me, this isn't an end game. He has to continually learn."

Bowman said he knows all of this.

"I'm not going to try to make an argument on why (fans) should feel a certain way," the new GM said.

"It's going to be my job to try to win them over. I think the goal is to try to do it through your actions, as opposed to what you're saying."

Draisaitl's contract

As for his first moves as GM, Bowman called keeping Draisaitl a "top priority."

"I want Leon to be an Oiler for life," he said, calling him and McDavid the rare kind of players who can elevate their game even in playoffs.

"(We've) got a great core group here. And the key thing over the coming years is going to be making sure we have players that can come in, whether it's young players or lower-price players, but still make an impact on the roster."

Bowman will be the Oilers' 11th general manager.

From Montreal, he's the son of Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman.

He spent 20 seasons in Chicago, starting as a special assistant to the general manager in 2000-2001, earning promotions to director of hockey operations in 2005-2006 then assistant general manager in 2007, before finally being named the team's ninth general manager in 2009.

The Oilers mutually parted ways with general manager Ken Holland after the Stanley Cup Final.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski