Edmonton Oilers hire Stan Bowman as new general manager

The Edmonton Oilers announced Wednesday they have hired ex-Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman as their new GM.

The move comes after Edmonton did not extend the contract of previous GM Ken Holland at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. Under Holland, who joined the Oilers front office in 2019, the team reached their first Stanley Cup final in 18 years, where they lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 after coming back from a 3-0 series deficit.

The hiring of Bowman is significant not only because it’s for one of the NHL’s best and most prestigious franchises, but because he is just three years removed from being banned from holding an executive position in the NHL.

Bowman, along with ex-Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and executive Al Maclsaac, received this ban in 2021 after ‘mishandling allegations of sexual assault raised by a former player,’ per Sportsnet.

Bowman, Quenneville and Maclsaac were officially reinstated by the NHL on July 1 and were eligible to sign a contract on July 10.

In 12 years with Bowman as GM, and later president of hockey operations for the Blackhawks, the franchise won three Stanley Cups. The 51-year-old also previously served as GM of the United States men’s Olympic hockey team.

The Oilers are currently the +800 favourites to win the 2024/25 Stanley Cup.

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

David Schneidman

• Edmonton Oilers
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