Stan Bowman returned to NHL 14 Days after being reinstated by Commissioner Gary Bettman. The Edmonton Oilers have announced Stan Bowman as their next general manager.
I #Oil named Stan Bowman General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 24, 2024
Bowman is the 11th General Manager in Oilers franchise history and the senior vice president of hockey operations.
There has been much speculation as to who will be the next general manager of the Edmonton Oilers following their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. As NHLRumors.com wrote, Bowman’s name continued to come up even before his return to the NHL.
The Oilers are in need of a new general manager after Ken Holland stepped down at the end of the season. Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson announced that Holland will not return by choice and is free to pursue retirement or other careers.
When the Oilers’ season ended after they lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers, Jackson’s career began. He wanted to prioritize getting a General Manager instead.
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Soon after Stan Bowman was reinstated on July 1st, talk of him joining the Oilers became rampant. And it took just 14 days for Stan Bowman to find a home in the NHL.
Edmonton Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson: “I am thrilled and excited to welcome Stan to the Edmonton Oilers,” said Jeff Jackson, Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations in a statement. “I believe that his vast experience and proven success in this role, as well as the valuable work he has done in his absence from the game, aligns with our mission to be best in class when it comes to all aspects of our organization. Through our many conversations, we share a common vision of where we are as a team and what it takes to win another Stanley Cup.”
While Jackson always goes back to Stan Bowman as the guy, this hire is not without controversy.
There was a reason Stan Bowman was out of the NHL for almost two and a half years because of his inadequate response to allegations in 2010 that the Club’s video coach beat Blackhawks Player Kyle Beach.
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The Fourth Season’s David Pagnotta: “Jackson says he spent “a couple of weeks” interviewing GM candidates, but kept coming back to Bowman: “He was a guy.”
“What happened at Kyle Beach in 2010 was wrong, it was not handled properly at the time. I think Stan agreed and fully committed … but I also know he spent (time) studying, did a lot of work with Sheldon Kennedy…”
Jackson spoke to Kennedy about Bowman, and Kennedy gave Jackson “full credit” for his work. “We wouldn’t have hired this without knowing that Stan did all that work.” Kennedy is here.”
Mark Lazerus: I’m really happy about that Stan Bowman set yourself the goal of learning, understanding, growing, and helping others to handle future situations appropriately. Indeed.
But we cannot forget that the failure of these men led to the sexual abuse of a young child. You should NOT hire them.
Bowman spent 20 seasons (2000-21) with the Chicago Blackhawks) including 12 as GM from 2009-21. He won three Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015, three Western Conference and Central Division titles, and the President’s Trophy in 2013.
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Now Stan Bowman finds himself in the same situation he was in when he took over from Dale Tallon in Chicago. Bowman inherits a winning roster with star talent in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Jeff Jackson worked hard this offseason to get the team back together, with the additions of Matthew Savoie, Viktor Arvidsson, and Jeff Skinner.
Like Jackson, Bowman made Leon Draisaitl’s extension his top priority.
And regardless of what you think of Stan Bowman, the Edmonton Oilers and Jeff Jackson got their guy. They hope Bowman can do what he did in Chicago and bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton.
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