Former Chicago Blackhawks president of hockey operations Stan Bowman has been hired by the Edmonton Oilers, ending a nearly three-year hiatus from the game following revelations surrounding his handling of sexual assault allegations by former player Kyle Beach.
Bowman was announced as the Oilers’ new general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations, replacing Ken Holland as the team’s head of hockey operations.
“I am thrilled and excited to welcome Stan to the Edmonton Oilers,” Oilers chief hockey operations officer Jeff Jackson said in a statement. “I believe his extensive experience and proven success in this role, coupled with the important work he has accomplished in his time away from the game, aligns with our goal of being best-in-class in every aspect 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 title.”
Bowman’s hiring has not been without controversy, as the NHL recently reinstated Bowman nearly three years after he resigned from his position with the Blackhawks. The move follows an investigation into the team’s handling of sexual assault allegations by Beach, who said he was assaulted by former video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup run.
The investigation found that Bowman was aware of the allegations and was involved in a dispute in May 2010 with team officials, including former president John McDonough and head coach Joel Quenneville. It was decided that the team would not delve further into the investigation because of its playoff run, and Aldrich was allowed to continue traveling with the team through the end of that season.
After the campaign, Aldrich was offered the option to resign or face an investigation into his actions, and he chose to resign.
Beach later sued the Blackhawks over their handling of the investigation, with the lawsuit settling in December 2021. The Blackhawks were also sued by a former high school player for whom Aldrich was convicted of sexually assaulting three years after his tenure in Chicago ended. That suit was dismissed.
Bowman resigned from his position after the Jenner & Block report was released. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million.
Earlier this month, Bowman and Quenneville were reinstated by the NHL, allowing them to pursue jobs within the league.
“While it is clear that at the time their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals has recognized this and used their time away from the game to engage in activities that not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also demonstrate a greater awareness of the responsibilities of all NHL personnel, particularly those in leadership positions,” the league said in a statement.
Bowman will be available to speak to the media Wednesday in Edmonton, where he is expected to address the allegations and the actions he has taken since stepping down as the Blackhawks’ general manager.
NBC Chicago
