Opinion: Oilers' Impressive Off-Season Moves Overshadowed by Hiring Stan Bowman

The Edmonton Oilers built a lot of off-season momentum before hiring Stan Bowman as their GM. Jim Parsons and Avry Lewis-McDougall react.

The Edmonton Oilers have had a productive off-season, making strategic moves to bolster their lineup and setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling upcoming 2024-25 NHL season. 

However, the hiring of Stan Bowman as the new GM and executive vice-president of hockey operations has sparked controversy, threatening to overshadow the positive momentum the team has built.

The Oilers introduced Bowman on Wednesday. As expected, most of the questions revolved around the 2010 mishandling of allegations that video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted forward Kyle Beach in 2010.

"I can tell you without a doubt that those mistakes will never happen on my watch again," Bowman said at Wednesday's press conference.

Oilers CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson also didn't excuse what an investigation judged was an inadequate response to the allegations during the Chicago Blackhawks' 2010 playoff run.

"What happened to Kyle Beach in 2010 was wrong, was horrible," Jackson said. "It wasn't handled properly at the time. Stan has acknowledged and taken full responsibility for the inadequate response."

The Blackhawks were fined $2 million after the investigation. Bowman, then-VP of hockey operations Al MacIsaac and former coach Joel Quenneville resigned in October 2021. The NHL reinstated the three on July 1 to talk to teams and on July 10 to begin working for a team.

The Oilers' hockey management group, led by Jackson, has worked tirelessly to strengthen the team. Key acquisitions and strategic planning have been at the forefront of their efforts, aiming to capitalize on the talent of star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. 

Bowman alluded to that on Wednesday when he commended Jackson and his staff for the job they’ve done this off-season.

From securing promising young talents at the draft and signing smart free agents, such as Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, to making savvy trades, such as acquiring Matt Savoie, the Oilers have shown a clear commitment to building a team capable of making a deep playoff run. The fan base has been buzzing with excitement as a result.

On Wednesday morning, it seemed most of that positive momentum had disappeared in the span of a few hours.

Bowman’s hiring has brought a wave of scrutiny because of his involvement in the mishandling of the Kyle Beach situation. Although Bowman has acknowledged his mistakes and expressed a commitment to learning from them, the decision to bring him into the Oilers' organization has been met with mixed reactions.

Jackson emphasized that Bowman has spent the past two and a half years educating himself and working with experts, such as Sheldon Kennedy of the Respect Group, to improve hockey culture and ensure such incidents never happen again.

One of their focuses in the press conference was a fresh commitment to ensuring the culture and environment around the franchise are the best they can be. Part of that is knowing when to speak up to prevent or handle abusive acts instead of assuming someone else will take proper action.

Many people in the hockey world aren’t buying the hire, with some wondering why the Oilers would hire Bowman over other noteworthy candidates.

"I think fans are entitled always to their opinion," Jackson said. "They have opinions about firing coaches and making trades and everything else.

"I have to respect the fans’ opinions. I think that Stan’s work over the next few years here will dictate how they respond. I think they will give him a chance."

Bowman also expressed gratitude for the opportunity and a determination to prove himself.

"I'm looking forward to a chance to make a difference in the organization," he said. 

"I respect those who have reservations," Bowman added. "I understand why they do. My goal is to win them over through my actions and make the team better on the ice, but also make the organization better off of the ice and away from the game."

Bowman also said he reached out to Beach Tuesday night to give a heads-up the Oilers were hiring him.

Jackson said he didn’t consult the players on the decision to bring Bowman in. He said players are consulted about travel, schedules and other day-to-day aspects of their jobs rather than having a say in the hiring of coaches or GMs.

"That's not what they want – they don't want to do that," Jackson said.

The Oilers have been riding a wave of positivity with a strong roster and high hopes for the upcoming season. The focus has shifted from their on-ice achievements to the hiring. Whether it causes a distraction for the team in the long term remains to be seen, but it's likely the players will be asked about Bowman eventually.

The organization must continue to navigate this situation carefully. It will be crucial to maintain transparency, address concerns head-on and ensure the focus remains on the team's goals. 

The Oilers also must find a way to balance acknowledging Bowman's past while emphasizing their commitment to a positive future. 

Hanging over the season will now be questions about every move. Any potential mistakes will be amplified.

Tangible results must back Jackson's confidence in Bowman. Not only does this team now need to win, but there needs to be visible action from Bowman that carries over from his volunteering with the Respect Group to improving the organization's culture. Otherwise, some very doubtful fans may never show their support.

For more reaction to the hiring, here's Avry Lewis-McDougall in Edmonton:

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