The former General Manager has been connected to the Edmonton Oilers by multiple sources.
The former General Manager has been connected to the Edmonton Oilers by multiple sources.
EDMONTON -- It's the summer of change.
After making it all the way to Game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers are making some changes. Part of that started on Sunday June 30th when they placed Jack Campbell on waivers to buy out his contract.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDhjISFTWZY[/embed]
Jeff Jackson has made it known what the Oilers are looking at during Free Agency. The biggest focus for him will be to "run it back" with most of the roster from 2023-24 returning.
However, they have a vacant General Manager position that needs to be filled. There has only been one name mentioned by several sources in regard to the vacancy.
Both Andy Strickland and Frank Seravalli have brought up Stan Bowman's name.
Strickland tweeted the following yesterday, "There is no change in the status of both Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman although a senior, high ranking league executive tells me that could change in the 'very near future'. Bowman has been linked to Oilers GM vacancy."
On the DFO Rundown podcast with Jason Gregor and Seravalli, Gregor asked Seravalli what he makes of Bowman's connection to the Oilers. His response, "I think he was on the Oilers list one year ago when they ended up hiring Jeff Jackson. Now he's not eligible to work, but it seems like there is the potential for that to change."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJHyVELaQDo[/embed]
My Take
Bowman certainly fits the bill of "experienced GM." I'm not sure this is the road that the Oilers go down. I understand how this would make sense to some people. However, the reason this name is causing controversy is in relation to the Kyle Beach sexual misconduct case from a few years ago. Bowman was the GM of the Chicago Blackhawks at the time and stepped down at the conclusion of the investigation.
I think Jackson isn't looking for the most experienced GM, but someone who has been a GM for a couple years or has extensive assistant GM experience and is looking to make the next step. I don't believe the Oilers will pursue Bowman for their vacant GM position.
One way or another, the GM position will be a massive talking point until the job has been filled.
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