Opinion: Stan Bowman Has Done the Work. He is Contrite. Is That Enough?

The new Oilers GM has received the endorsement of none other than Sheldon Kennedy, so does he deserve an opportunity to redeem himself? Ken Campbell shares his thoughts.

There is no doubt Stan Bowman and a lot of other people connected with the Chicago Blackhawks made a monumental blunder when they learned of the allegations of sexual assault to Kyle Beach in 2010. An enormous one. 

Kicking the matter upstairs doesn't absolve Bowman or anyone else of guilt here.

All it would have taken to make the situation right would have been one person - just one person - to stand up to the culture of silence that has ruled this game for so long and say, "There has been a crime committed here, and I'm going to the police."

Bowman didn't do that, and that will forever stain his legacy, no matter what else he does. The Edmonton Oilers hired him as their new GM and executive vice-president of hockey operations on Wednesday knowing that.

But at what point do we offer a person an opportunity for redemption, particularly when his words and his actions have indicated contrition and a willingness to learn and make things better? Especially when Sheldon Kennedy, the co-founder of the Respect Group, gave examples of this?

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