Los Angeles Kings fans have grown very familiar with the Edmonton Oilers over the last three seasons.
Few teams have played each other more than the Kings and Oilers in the last three years, leading to a bitter rivalry that Kings players consider their biggest rivalry games right now.
A fourth-straight playoff matchup with Edmonton is very possible and the Kings will see plenty of the Oilers this season.
The Oilers have put together a strong off-season and solidified themselves as one of the true contenders in the league.
However, they’ve “finished” their off-season moves with the most controversial decision any team has made so far.
The Oilers announced on Wednesday that they were hiring former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman to be their general manager.
The #Oilers have named Stan Bowman General Manager & Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 24, 2024
For anyone that needs a reminder, Bowman was re-instated to work within the league just 14 days ago.
He’s spent the last two years unable to work in the NHL after an investigation into his involvement in covering up a sexual assault scandal in Chicago.
This decision has caused significant pushback from fans of the NHL and of the Oilers.
Many consider this a step backwards for the league, allowing Bowman to come back in a position of power.
After a summer of positive moves, it’s a risky play from Edmonton to make such a controversial hire.
It’s killed a lot of the momentum they’ve built over the last six months.
Kings fans will have another reason to root against the Oilers now, not that they needed more reasons.
