The Edmonton Oilers dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, July 24, by announcing Stan Bowman as their new General Manager. At 51, Bowman isn’t just stepping into the GM shoes; he’s also snagging the title of Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. The Oilers made the big reveal on their X handle, sparking a flurry of fan reactions.
Ken Holland, the Oilers’ previous GM, was shown the door without an extension after the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Panthers in last month’s Stanley Cup final. Fans, already bruised by the defeat, were less than thrilled with Bowman’s hiring.
Fans React to the Oilers’ Hiring of Stan Bowman
The Oilers’ post about their new GM quickly gained traction, racking up over 2,100 quotes and 2,400 replies in just 20 hours. The hiring of Bowman, the former Blackhawks GM who was banned from executive positions for two years in 2021 for mishandling Kyle Beach’s sexual assault allegations, did not sit well with fans.
One disgruntled Reddit user declared, “I’ve cancelled my subscriptions. Who else is with me?” They lambasted the Oilers for hiring someone who covered up such serious allegations and noted that Oilers’ personnel JJ has gone private on X, hinting at the team’s awareness of the backlash.
Another fan chimed in, accusing the Oilers of caring only about money and announcing they’ve stopped paying for Oilers+ and SN. “It’s really too bad. This was going to be an exciting season,” they lamented, expressing their inability to support the team as they once did.
Over on X, fans were equally vocal, criticizing the organization for their questionable decision. “The Oilers had one of the best off-seasons I’ve seen in my lifetime just to ruin it by hiring Stan Bowman, who shouldn’t be anywhere near the NHL again,” one fan raged.
Journalists also weighed in, with TSN radio host Eric Macramalla calling it a terrible business decision. Macramalla couldn’t fathom why the Oilers would bring Bowman on board.
Ken Holland on Stan Bowman Replacing Him as GM
In a statement, Ken Holland shared his thoughts on Bowman’s appointment. Holland praised Bowman, acknowledging his past mistakes and highlighting his efforts to create a safer locker room environment. “He possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area,” Holland stated. He emphasized that building a strong, healthy culture within the organization would be Bowman’s top priority. “Lastly, and most importantly, I feel that Stan will do everything in his power to ensure what happened to Kyle Beach never happens to anyone else,” Holland concluded.
For those still processing the shakeup, there’s plenty of debate and drama to follow as the Oilers navigate their controversial new chapter with Stan Bowman at the helm.
