Confirmed with Link: Oilers hire Stan Bowman as GM & Executive VP- press conference at 10:30

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I don't know if a single soul here is happy with it from a hockey perspective. I'm not.

Just people opining that think that giving second chances might be fair in this situation even if he isn't a great hire or candidate.

That’s where I am at as well. JJ has hit the nail on the head so far so I’m going to roll with JJ until it seems it’s time not to. I think the fact they will work collaboratively will be a net positive though. JJ has stated he won’t be a silent CEO.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Jeff Jackson says their management model will be with all of them working together when making deals and signing contracts... not just Stan Bowman.

So there is that.

The last time we hired a bald GM, it didn't go well.

 

[McHelpus]

Please don’t put Duncan Keith in any kind of level comparable to Stan Bowman

Same old boys nonsense just now we are collecting the 2010 Blackhawks.

 

[K1984]

Yeah. Its not Just Stan Bowman its that society changes, gets confused, values change and athletes locker rooms and sports have seldom been the heights of virtue and enlightenment. Whenever there is this kind of trackback through history it ends up applying todays mores and constructs to yesterdays problems. Historically a lot of individuals fail based on retroactive parameters. What occurred in Chicago was not isolated, and it wasn't isolated to the Hawks either. They were the ones embroiled in a court case.

In anycase forgiveness defines enlightened society.

I'd be interested to see how many here shouting from the heavens have been told by their boss "don't worry about this, I'm going to handle it" and simply done as told?

That's literally what happened here. This doesn't necessarily excuse Bowman (with the benefit of hindsight), but to for people to suggest that they would instantly go above their bosses head and take matters into their own hands is frankly ridiculous. Armchair QBing at its worst.

Bowman did wrong, there is no doubt about it. But of all the characters involved, he was far from the worst perpetrator or the ring leader in this situation.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Yeah. Its not Just Stan Bowman its that society changes, gets confused, values change and athletes locker rooms and sports have seldom been the heights of virtue and enlightenment. Whenever there is this kind of trackback through history it ends up applying todays mores and constructs to yesterdays problems. Historically a lot of individuals fail based on retroactive parameters. What occurred in Chicago was not isolated, and it wasn't isolated to the Hawks either. They were the ones embroiled in a court case.

In anycase forgiveness defines enlightened society.

There's a difference between forgiving someone and giving them a high paying job they haven't earned.

 

[Duder54]

This. Primarily the bolded.

What is wrong with people in present day? What is this need to banish people for transgression? Redemption not possible?

Atonement. This is an org that has often given 2nd chances to players or staff and did to Murphy, MacTavish, Murdoch, Kane, Perry, and now are doing it again.

Try to judge Bowman on merit rather than other.

Reading and hearing about Kennedy's work with and endorsement of Bowman, as well as listening to the press conference has done a lot of make me feel better about the hire.

 

[Cloned]

The ultimate litmus test for moves is what kind of reaction you’d have to them if they were made by the Flames, Leafs or Canucks.

If the reaction would be LOL, LMAO or , then it’s probably a bad move.

Unfortunately I think this is a bad move.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Jeff Jackson says their management model will be with all of them working together when making deals and signing contracts... not just Stan Bowman.

So there is that.

The last time we hired a bald GM, it didn't go well.

Now I’m very concerned.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I’ll always welcome a devils advocate, and I appreciate you bringing that up because I think on the surface it could provide some type of justification. However I think when it comes to this specific situation, the risk is not to the guys who hired him, or Bowman himself, it’s to every single person in the organization who doesn’t have the luxury of being handed a golden parachute like Aldrich, or returning to their multimillion dollar a year salary running and NHL team within 2 years of being forced to step away.

When the real risk is being forced on those involved with the team and organization rather than the hire themselves, or the ones who made the hire, it becomes a lot different than hiring someone looking for a second chance who’s biggest risk is typically going to be themselves and the people who’ve hired them.

Sure the execs are taking a “risk” by risking the backlash of hiring him with all the controversy, but when you hire someone with a history of covering for an abuser, you send a message to everyone below you that you’re willing to put all of them at risk of being the next “John Doe”. That’s not a risk anyone should be allowed to force onto anyone else, especially when the ones suddenly at risk are people who likely don’t have the luxury of being able to simply just find somewhere else to go.

Playing devils advocate here and it’s something that I’ve thought about recently.

I’m a situation like this, with Bowman at least in the outside putting in work to atone for what he did (which is more than the others in this situation who were far worse have even tried to do) the message that could get sent for having him permanently black balled sends is. Do a bad thing and you are done, so simply get better at hiding it.

That happens most of the time in scandals. These things don’t really stop happening, they just get better and better at covering them up.

The one potential benefit of bringing in Bowman to the league again is he is obvious a guy who has admitted and sought how to learn about how he failed and he can bring that to the league and hopefully help promote change.

Remove peoples chances to change and atone and bad actions don’t stop happening, they just work harder to make sure you never find out.

Edit: Now my belief here doesn’t extent to a guy like Aldrich who actually committed the assault, same with things like sexual assault, rape, murder, any harm to kids etc.

 

[Canovin]

Jeff Jackson says their management model will be with all of them working together when making deals and signing contracts... not just Stan Bowman.

So there is that.

The last time we hired a bald GM, it didn't go well.

Drunk GM - McTavish/Holland
Bald GM - Chia/Bowman

 

[Zerotonine]

Ib really didn't like the vibe i for from Jackson on that presser. Didn't seem to be his normal self. Almost like this wasn't good decision and he was told this is who his new gm is.

If drai and even mcdavid don't resign now. This decision is really going to backfire and or will get ugly.....

 

[Stoneman89]

Hate the hire with a passion, but this has to count for something?

https://thehockeynews.com/news/sheldon-kennedy-of-respect-in-sports-group-reflects-on-his-work-with-stan-bowman

Sounds like Bowman spent a better part of his two years working with Kennedy.

I was going to mention this. When you get an endorsement from Sheldon Kennedy, who's been directly in the eye of the storm, that should count for something. Evander Kane seems to have turned his life around, and Corey Perry turned out to be pretty standup and admitted his issues and sought help. Both of them have been decent to very good performers and citizens for us. I remember a lot of people losing their shit back in the day when we traded for Craig MacTavish, the then known " convicted drunken vehicular homicide scumbag". Obviously, he turned his life completely around and has been beyond a model person and damned good player for us.

 

[Drivesaitl]

The ultimate litmus test for moves is what kind of reaction you’d have to them if they were made by the Flames, Leafs or Canucks.

If the reaction would be LOL, LMAO or , then it’s probably a bad move.

Unfortunately I think this is a bad move.

Reaction is a litmus test for reaction. Believe me I know but I've tried to atone.

 

[NeverForget06]

even if you’re satisfied with all the PR about bowman and his remorse/rehabilitation it’s just such a sideshow…. all the players will have to speak about it - that’s another angle of this I don’t understand

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

even if you’re satisfied with all the PR about bowman and his remorse/rehabilitation it’s just such a sideshow…. all the players will have to speak about it - that’s another angle of this I don’t understand

Considering that the players weren't even consulted that just makes this hiring even dumber.

 

[Duder54]

The ultimate litmus test for moves is what kind of reaction you’d have to them if they were made by the Flames, Leafs or Canucks.

If the reaction would be LOL, LMAO or , then it’s probably a bad move.

Unfortunately I think this is a bad move.

History aside, I also wonder if this was the best hire. Seems a bit like the Holland hire... someone with success a long time ago.

I guess we'll find out in due course.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

There's a difference between forgiving someone and giving them a high paying job they haven't earned.

What makes you the arbiter of what’s earned and what is not?

I’d say the guy making that decisions opinion matters more than yours. He’s the guy actually in charge, you’re the guy who has absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[Duder54]

Considering that the players weren't even consulted that just makes this hiring even dumber.

I can't believe for a moment that players wouldn't have been consulted on this. Is that confirmed?

 

[iCanada]

I'd be interested to see how many here shouting from the heavens have been told by their boss "don't worry about this, I'm going to handle it" and simply done as told?

That's literally what happened here. This doesn't necessarily excuse Bowman (with the benefit of hindsight), but to for people to suggest that they would instantly go above their bosses head and take matters into their own hands is frankly ridiculous. Armchair QBing at its worst.

Bowman did wrong, there is no doubt about it. But of all the characters involved, he was far from the worst perpetrator or the ring leader in this situation.

Yeah idk - once your boss and HR get involved and say they're handling it, I'm pretty sure everyone's staying the f*** out of it unless otherwise asked.

As for reporting it - he wasn't a mandatory reporter. Modern SA advocacy training would be to support the victim on their own requests and reports not to initiate your own unless you believe there is further danger to them, which there wasn't.

Aside from that - why would it be his job to follow up and confirm Aldrich's next places of employment and volunteer habits? How would he even go about doing that? Is that not more HR scope and on Q for writing the letter of recommendation in the first place?

 

[OfCorsiDid]

Panarin trade kind of cancel itself out. Bowman did sign him and got back an useful player in Saad.

Jones is like Nurse deal.
Bowman traded Teravainen for 2 x 2nd
Holland traded 2 x 2nd for AA

Bowman did similar things to Holland. Holland had a chance to redeem himself tho. He got us Ekholm, Hyman, Barrie, Kane, Henrique

How tf do you say the Panarin trade cancels out?!?

Panarin, a top 10 winger in the league right now, was traded for a 3rd liner.

COME ON DUDE. It’s basically Hall for Larsson.

And sure Holland got us those guys but also:

- signed Kassian to a contract extension that he then traded away with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd as a cap dump.
- Cody Ceci
- Jack Campbell
- Connor Brown

 

[McOilers97]

I'd be interested to see how many here shouting from the heavens have been told by their boss "don't worry about this, I'm going to handle it" and simply done as told?

That's literally what happened here. This doesn't necessarily excuse Bowman (with the benefit of hindsight), but to for people to suggest that they would instantly go above their bosses head and take matters into their own hands is frankly ridiculous. Armchair QBing at its worst.

Bowman did wrong, there is no doubt about it. But of all the characters involved, he was far from the worst perpetrator or the ring leader in this situation.

I also feel this way. He was about 36-37 years old, first year GM, the matter WAS brought to attention, and supposedly his boss was going to do something about it. His mistake of course was the inaction after nothing ever was done about it, but it can't have been an easy position to be put in. Arguably the right move would have been to resign if he felt as disgusted by it as he should've, and nothing was going to be done about it - but it's easier said than done to walk away from a dream job like that.

So while Bowman's reputation (deservedly) took a big hit from the whole matter, it shouldn't be treated as though he is the #1 perpetrator.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

What makes you the arbiter of what’s earned and what is not?

I’d say the guy making that decisions opinion matters more than yours. He’s the guy actually in charge, you’re the guy who has absolutely nothing to do with it.

You're right, the Oilers have been excellent judges about this sort of thing. If someone in a similar situation was hired above you in your job I'm sure you'd be perfectly okay with it.

I can't believe for a moment that players wouldn't have been consulted on this. Is that confirmed?

They said so in the presser.

 

[Tarus]

Well, the response is about what I expected it would be. Oilers love being the villains of the NHL these days apparently. I thought every discussion off Hfboards turning into "evander kane is an evil wife beater" was obnoxious, I suspect things are going to be a whole lot worse going forward

Hopefully Bowman at least learned something from how badly he flamed out as Chicago's GM, otherwise we've got another Chiarelli on our hands

I do wonder if JJ's comments about not talking to the players about this decision is him just protecting the players from the backlash like he did when Knoblauch was hired. I'd be concerned that a move that is so highly divisive among the fanbase would also have a similar effect among the players, this potentially has some pretty big ramifications if it trickles down to the room.

 

[Drivesaitl]

even if you’re satisfied with all the PR about bowman and his remorse/rehabilitation it’s just such a sideshow…. all the players will have to speak about it - that’s another angle of this I don’t understand

I don't really think this is even an issue frankly. The team has Kane, Perry presently in lineup. The org isn't shy of offering 2nd chance and support to individuals and it has often paid dividends. Sometimes it works.

Ironically enough it was redemption man Craig Mactavish that drafted Draisaitl so that he can even be here so I don't think theres going to be your stated concern.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Gazzola says there were a lot of eye rolls and sighs at the press conference today from Oilers management.

Teams texted in to Oilers reporters saying "idiots"


LOL great