Former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, who oversaw the decline of the team and eventually resigned the wake of the Brad Aldrich sexual assault scandal, is back in the NHL as the Edmonton Oilers new general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations.
The 51-year-old Bowman replaced Ken Holland, who left the Oilers in June after five years as GM. Bowman, 51, is the 11th general manager in Oilers history after spending 20 seasons with the Blackhawks, including his last 12 years as GM (2009-21).
Bowman resigned from the Blackhawks on Oct 26, 2021 following the release of a report from Chicago law firm Jenner & Block on claims that Aldrich, then the team’s video coach, had sexually assaulted minor league prospect Kyle Beach during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup in May 2010.
Bowman, along with then Chicago coach Joel Quenneville and senior vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, were not allowed to work for any NHL team following a decision by commissioner Gary Bettman a few days after findings of Jenner & Block’s investigation were published. That resulted from “their inadequate response” after the report showed they had learned in a meeting in May 2010 that Beach alleged he had been sexually assaulted by Aldrich.
Related: Former Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville, Former GM Stan Bowman Reinstated To Work In NHL
The Blackhawks were fined $2 million as an organization for mishandling claims by Beach, the team’s first-round draft pick, 11th overall in 2008.
Quenneville, who was coaching the Florida Panthers when the report was published, stepped down on Oct. 28, 2021 after meeting with Bettman in New York. Quenneville has the second most coaching wins in NHL history at 969.
The National Hockey League announced on July 1 that Bowman, Quenneville and MacIsaac were eligible to seek employment in the league. The league said Bowman had acknowledged his mistakes and sought help to improve his awareness of sexual assault cases.
Aldrich was convicted in December 2013 for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old player he had coached in his hometown of Houghton, Michigan, then served nine months in prison.
Related: Bowman’s Blackhawks Blunders: Draft Picks That Shouldn’t Have Been Traded
