Former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman reinstated by NHL, ‘top candidate’ for Oilers GM job

The National Hockey League has reinstated multiple former executives of the Chicago Blackhawks who were directly linked to efforts to cover up sexual assault allegations levied against video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.

Stan Bowman, Al MacIssac, and Joel Quenneville have all become eligible to seek employment in the league but are unable to sign with a team until July 10th, 2024, the NHL said in a statement Monday.

“For more than the last two and a half years, these individuals have been ineligible to work for any NHL team as a result of their inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Blackhawks’ Player, Kyle Beach, had been assaulted by the Club’s video coach,” the league said in a statement.

“While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which, not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.”

The league added each “made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse.”

Bowman’s name has been linked to the Oilers in recent days, and after news of his reinstatement became public, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported that he would “become a top candidate” for the vacant general manager job in Edmonton.

Prior to Bowman, 51, stepping down from his role as GM of the Blackhawks amid the allegations coming to light in 2021, he had spent his entire 17-year career with the team. He started in 2005-06 as the director of hockey operations and took on the title of assistant general manager in 2007-08.

Ahead of the 2009-10 season, Bowman was named general manager after the organization parted ways with Dale Tallon, with the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup that year. In May of that season, the allegations against Aldrich by Kyle Beach were brought to the team’s attention with an independent report by Jenner & Block later revealing that the organization had failed to act appropriately.

The five-year contract that Ken Holland signed with the Oilers in June of 2019 came to an end last week and CEO Jeff Jackson is currently serving as the team’s de facto general manager. Jackson said that he has no intention of remaining as the GM of the Oilers and that the team is looking to hire a successor to Holland. As Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported, Bowman will be among the top candidates for the Oilers’ vacant GM position.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.