The Cult of Hockey's "Outrage as Edmonton Oilers hired Stan Bowman" podcast

[@lyalclough2612]

"There was other choices for GM." Yep. McCurdy nails it.

[@sukhjitsingh8269]

Hunter was in the running for GM and had he been hired. Everyone would have loved the oilers-Hoping Cats repeat now

[@AnaRamos4u]

David, 

 Talk about a missed opportunity own goal here. It’s actually incredible that you’re unable to see it. You’re currently standing on the wrong side of history and during this video seem to have shifted to the centre, saying you don’t want to take a stance. Well, you already have and it was that you were behind Bowman being hired. Let me paint the picture of the general trend and where society has been going for the last 100 years. We’ve gone from a society where consent wasn’t really understood, SA in the workplace, date rape, the Church, residential schools, the #metoo movement and the list goes on. What’s going on in Hockey is really absurd for where society is trending. For some reason this isn’t being taken seriously and it's one of the last open bastions for predators to roam. Your general acceptance of someone like Bowman is part of this old guard mentality, which is perpetuating this toxicity within the sport. We need our movement for the health and safety of the sport and instead you’re saying that Bowman paid his what, 2.5 year penalty?

 No one will ever criticize you for taking the stance against the toxic environment which is the hypocrisy of SA in hockey. As a matter of fact, you could be the leader significant change. What are people going to say? Yeah, we totally should hire people that shelter convicted sex criminals within our sport? But you can sure bet that your legacy could be the person that stood behind a predator harborer, only to see the public backlash and opinion swing the other way and you’re stuck without a chair when the music stops.

[@brianroemer5340]

I admire the pair of you so much and have missed your podcasts. This was an excellent podcast and has really helped me understand the hiring of Bowman much better. You are absolutely right. Jackson didn’t suddenly become an idiot. I believe Bowman can do some good in this position and if only it can help educate people. I now what to give this man a second chance. Not only do I love my Oilers but the organization for being willing to give people second chances. Thank you so much for this podcast

[@roximama]

I just don't understand why Edmonton has to be the halfway house of the NHL. Don't get me wrong. I'm fine with Kane and Perry but sheesh, there were other options and this move is not dictated by cap space. The fans were begging him not to do this for weeks and the fact that he set his Twitter to private last night is like a poke in the eye to an awful lot of people. Jackson is quite simply an A-hole for doing it the way he chose to do it. As for his judgment, yeah so he has some good hockey judgment. It's his morals that are being called in to question right now.

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

I've never been associated with any kind of sexual assault case( as far as I know my sister, none of my cousins, nieces, nephews, my wife has never been sexually assaulted)....saying that, it must have been incredibly uncomfortable for a guy like Stan Bowman to confront the video coach. He was hired on for hockey related stuff, not to be a "social worker". And as usual, the NHL never gives us specifics...only that "something happened". Maybe what Bowman could have done is either 1) gone to the NHLPA 2) gone to the police But to blame Bowman for a 5'10" guy to sexually assault a 6'3" NHLer?....not a chance.

[@wntjst]

The Oilers are a winning team that were 2 goals short of winning a 6th Stanley Cup in a relatively short history of 45 years in the NHL.We already have 5 Stanley Cup wins. We didn't need Stan Bowman to inflame the Oiler fan base and light up social media with so much negativity! There is so much young talent to take over GM Jobs in the NHL. The Oilers have Keith Gretzky and other young guys in the organization that are totally qualified to be a GM in 2024. Jackson made a great impression with all of the Oiler player signings as temporary GM this summer. He has literally wiped out that good impression/good will/joy of Oilers performance with this ridiculous and unnecessary signing of Stan Bowman as the new GM!TERRIBLE SIGNING AND TERRIBLE LOOK FOR THE EDMONTON OILERS! Shame on Jeff Jackson and shame on Daryl Katz! Daryl Katz could have nixed this Bowman signing but "KEPT SILENT"! ARROGANCE AND OLD BOYS CLUB ,HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

[@neillore7332]

@@RememberMe123-b4b The 6"3 NHLer was 16 years old, and the fact that you are blaming him for being SA'd is absolutely disgusting. Maybe you should bring a resume to the Oilers, you sound like the kind of person they want in the front office.

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

​@neillore7332 He was 20, during the 2010 Stanley Cup championship, wasn't 16. Even saying that, there is no way a 5'10" guy is going to freely sexually assault a 6'3" man....unless he did a "Bill Cosby"..... I'm serious. Anyway, like I said before...if you know anything about men, you'll know that we're extremely uncomfortable about confronting men about stuff like this...women talk openly about feminine hygiene, periods, how well endowed their husbands are ....stuff like that. Why do you think we never heard about Theo Fleury until recently?....HE WAS ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT IT! Stan Bowman may have become friends with Aldrich, may have chummed around with him... thought he was a great guy. Then when Bowman heard allegations, he didn't know what to do or what to say...he was mortified. Trust me, it's hard to turn in a friend ( a friend of mine broke into house 45 years ago, stole a lot of stuff and ransacked the house, to this day ,we don't talk about it.... that's just the way a lot of men are). We talk about cars, work, politics, stupid thing that Harry did, tell dirty jokes. Even as incredible as this may seem, Bowman may have thought this would have blown over...he might have talked to him. I know it sounds stupid what I just said...but maybe in Bowman's thinking , he was hired by the Hawks to do hockey stuff, not to deal with 'perverts'. And how come Sharp, Keith, Kane, Bjuglien,Seabrook, Toews (especially Toews, captain 'n all) didn't step in and say something?....know why?....BECAUSE THEY'RE MEN....simple as that.

[@roximama]

@@RememberMe123-b4b The guy was his superior at work. Stop justifying and enabling rapists you creep.

[@chrisg1556]

I could understand this hire if Bowman was actually a good gm, but he's not. He's actually a pretty bad gm if you look at his track record. Those cup teams in Chicago were built by Tallon, not Bowman. It's a really odd hiring imo.

[@chrisg1556]

@SF1886 If Edmonton does win this upcoming season, Bowman will have little to nothing to do with it. The team has already been built. Dude, go look at his signings and trades. Most of them are awful. There's a reason why 95% of the hockey world is confused right now. Even the majority of Oilers fans hate this hiring.

[@nomadman123]

I guess I’ll go with JJ’s business acumen over yours. We’ll see.

[@brucestephens5675]

You bake a fabulous multi-layer cake and lather it with tainted icing ... for all the good you've done, you have shat upon it by hiring this man of disreputable character!!

[@DanielFry-x8o]

Burning my jersey

[@bellamydrake9343]

Total failure here by the NHL letting these guys back in the game and the same for Oiler management and ownership for making this terrible choice. Shame on you all.

[@christophermanning6146]

"Bowman has been aggressively penalized, all the more so because his mistake has been so public. He’s served his sentence. He’s highly qualified to lead an NHL team. And based on Kennedy’s testimony, I would trust Bowman to make the right call should a situation similar to the Kyle Beach matter arise again." Honestly David, this comment is completely tone deaf. You'd put your child into this situation today? Even if you would, it's completely out of line and I'm not seeing how Kennedy's response in this matter, matters. He wasn't the victim in this story. Hell it doesn't even matter if Beach comes out and says it's ok. There's a bigger picture here regarding SA and Hockey. To me, there's no statute of limitations or time served that will correct this level of gross negligence and complacency, which is acceptance. That is on a professional level, not necessarily a personal level. What does it say to all those children out there, especially those being paraded by the Oilers in the limelight? You too can harbour rapists and it's ok if you put in your 5-10 years, say sorry and become a GM in the NHL. As a beacon for the community, you have an obligation to be the voice for what's right for the marginalized and exploited individuals. It's a poor reflection on yourself and the Edmonton Journal by consequence.

[@rhye_guy7717]

David is always like this, especially when it comes to management and media. I don't know how many times Spec has wrote something that angers the fanbase and David is like "i DoN't KnOw WhAt EveRyOnE's PrObLeM iS". Between him being tone def and his complete lack of knowledge to the rest of the league, I usually just skip over when he's talking at this point.

[@neillore7332]

That's nothing, you should read his political columns sometime.

[@Bruhaha9]

I was on the second chances bandwagon a long time ago, BUT: A) That's a generic concept and that never meant it applied to *all* people., and B) It doesn't mean that if someone maybe ought to get a second chance, you have to offer up *your organization* as the place where that person gets the second chance. Even if the stink on Stan Bowman is relatively minor (and that's a point that's up for debate), it doesn't mean that a team looking for a Stanley Cup next year while also stewarding the future legacy of one of the great players in history needs any stink heaped on it whatsoever. These points were mostly mentioned in the podcast, so it's not meant to contradict anyone directly.

[@kikiknojj]

In my eyes, a second chance means the chance to rejoin society, not a second chance to work in one of the highest positions of power in hockey once again. Remember guys, these people had 11 YEARS to try and correct things, yet none of them did. They only feel remorseful now that they've been caught. Are people this naive to believe the likes of Bowman have "changed"?

[@Ace96x10]

Very well said. No way I'm against second and even 3rd chances, but No way is this the best person for the job. This is really aggravating.

[@oopopp]

Kyle Beach thought he's changed. Even spoke up for Bowman at the presser.

[@kikiknojj]

@@oopopp Where did Kyle Beach say that? The only statements from Kyle Beach I've heard came from other people. Also there are other victims besides him.

[@dwaynesbgb]

@@kikiknojjthose victims didn’t happen under bowman’s watch.

[@kikiknojj]

@@dwaynesbgb My brother in christ, the Hawks' silence contributed to Aldrich continuing on to freely assault the other victims because NO ONE reported him...To add to that, there are other players who have reported Aldritch assaulted them

[@blushingwillowtree6800]

What. Is. So. Great. About. Him?!?! He was somehow SO MUCH BETTER than every other possible person right? Seriously?!?! The freaking moment the league clears ANYONE to be eligible for hire, no matter what got them in trouble, here we are on our freaking knees for them EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I am SO TIRED OF THIS PATTERN. Why are we this eager to be the NHL's dumping ground for troublemakers, PR disasters, and a$$hats?! Personally, I haven't purchased a single Oilers item since they signed Kane and his presence on the team continues to ruin my feelings about the whole franchise. There will likely be fans who feel the same way about Bowman. "In a couple weeks" people will move on - yeah sure many of them will. But the Oilers will be certain to jump onto the next scandal as soon as it appears. Maybe Katz is addicted to drama and he instructs his management team to always make the most chaotic choice available. Honestly, the management of this team is a f-ing joke and they run the organization like a total clown show. They should start selling big red noses in their merch store. That's something I might actually buy. 🤡 Sincerely, A Very Disappointed Fan

[@peterdefabio9470]

On a lighter note...that's a great quote by Bruce near the end..."traded for spare change and couch cushions."

[@dianedyck3474]

I’m ok with it…I believe in second chances because none of us are angels!…I was hoping for mark hunter but if Jeff Jackson thinks bowman is our guy then I’m good with it!…I trust what Jackson is doing!

[@TH-tl6sy]

You know nothing about Bowman do you?

[@wntjst]

Stan Bowman comes back to work after only a 33 month NHL suspension and basically goes back to a top executive job as a GM of the 2024 Oiler Stanley Cup finalist. Bowman failed to protect one of his own Blackhawk Players from a sexual predator and he swept the player's major concerns under the carpet. He failed miserably at one of the biggest duties of his job. Oilers miss winning the 2024 Stanley Cup by 2 goals. GREAT POSITIVE,MOSTLY JOYOUS SEASON FOR OILER FAN BASE! Jackson and Katz kick the Oiler fan base right in the face by getting this franchise into so much needless controversy/wasted energy/distraction from positivity, by signing a very polarizing GM! Social Media explodes with about 60-65% of the Oiler fan base being against this GM signing! What's wrong with the above picture? Plenty!!

[@Parture]

Well rest assured Jackson is not as bright as you might think. People think he was brilliant for hiring a horrible plus minus player - forward Skinner. Oilers generally have a horrible plus minus status

[@wntjst]

Like McCurdy said, the Edmonton Oiler fan base didn't ask for or deserve all the abuse and shit that other fan bases and many other Canadians in general are heaping on the Oiler organization for signing such a polarizing GM. This negativity also effects the whole city of Edmonton!

[@MrWeirdproduct]

and a distraction for the players.

[@Ace96x10]

Deserve has nothing to do with it, and Jackson had to know this hiring wasn't going to go ever well, and for good reason. Other people have every right to their say. If that is a distraction, it's one that could have been avoided by hiring any of the other qualified people who would have applied.

[@rakitoon]

Oilers should distribute complimentary shit-proof umbrellas to all Oilers fans right now. Staples smirking through those comments from McCurdy was repulsive. I'll defend Kane and Perry all day long from uninformed opinions from outsiders. But this IS a different kind of thing.

[@sublimemediocrity]

I think most people would be very relieved to relinquish responsibility when the company VP takes control of a horrible situation. Even then, the VP is subordinate to others, whose response will be crafted by company lawyers. Bowman has done a lot to improve himself, and became an advocate to help others, even partnering with Sheldon Kenedy. I believe he deserves a second chance.

[@nomadman123]

Oilers are the place for second chances. Some say no one deserves it or they have to dictate what the conditions are. He could easily have said there wasn’t much he could do about it but he accepted responsibility. Even though there wasn’t an investigation and no one knows exactly what happened. It’s seems pretty obvious though and the guy is out of hockey. I hope. Sheldon is way closer to the situation and he says that Bowman did the work and it’s not like he took a one day course or similar. Sheldon says that Bowman can and probably will make a positive contribution to the issue. After all the info that’s out there, if people don’t like who the team hires, then they should start their own team and stop following the Oilers.

[@jclvmanagement7848]

It's fair to ask the question...would the new players sign with the Oilers and the current players resign with the Oilers had they known Bowman was coming on board? Did Jackson go about this quietly, keeping his interests in Bowman from the players? it's now evident, Jackson all along, from the get go, wanted Bowman? Guys like Jackson just don't wake up one morining and decide I think I'll hire that guy today. Jackson admitted himself he had his sights on Knoblauch for years. It's very fair to assume Jackson had his sights on Bowman for months if not years. Which is a little weird to me given the circumstances. Hard to say how this is all going to unfold and eventually turn out. I personally don't think the narrative, baggage and optics were necessary to involve the Oilers with this. Why put the club and fans through all this? Especially when there were other very qualified candidates available. I don't get it. I'm not asserting my personal feelings on the matter here, I'm just trying to figure out why Jackson felt Bowman was the only guy on the entire planet to do the job. When you look at it in that perspective was it really necessary to create all this controversy? Go Oilers!

[@JM-sp2iu]

Pretty ashamed of the Oilers for this move. Jackson should be fired along with booting Bowman out the door.

[@scottcraig2569]

People are reacting like Bowman was the perp. It wasn’t his story to tell. And he was the best available GM by miles. It was another gutsy move by jj.

[@omalleysmith9100]

IF you keep a secret like that? You're complicit and therefore, yes, just as guilty as the actual perp. Sorry, Bowman doesn't get a pass.

[@dianedyck3474]

@@omalleysmith9100I think a whole lot of people thought it was taken care of by the president when he said he would take care of it!…the guy was gone after they won the cup so there’s that!

[@malcolmrjmcleod]

He covered up a crime. That's why people are mad.

[@dianedyck3474]

@@malcolmrjmcleod he didn’t cover it up …the president said he was going to take care if it …the guy was let go after the cup was won and therefore bowman and the rest thought it was taken care of and Kyle never came forward about it until 10 years later…how did bowman cover it up?

[@nikig2382]

@@dianedyck3474He covered it up because he and a group of executives held a meeting where they decided to keep it quiet and wash their hands of the situation. I’ve never heard this info about the president being trusted to deal with it and I’m a Hawks fan. Also, unlike what the op said, Kyle Beach told management specifically so they would take action. This “not his story to tell” is nonsense.

[@rossmartens]

Sounds to me like stan was caught in the middle of something and may have turned blind eye or just honestly didn't understand the situation i say give the man a shot he was given blessing from those involved so let him work and show us

[@johnsean8491]

I just don't see what is so special about Bowman that they would take him on? Is he the ONLY guy that can get 97 and 29 signed?

[@rhye_guy7717]

This team makes it so hard to be a fan. The only positive I can find for this, is it gives me an opportunity to ask people to donate to SACE (Sexual Assault Center of Edmonton).

[@ColleenF-b1r]

WHY would we hire a NEGATIVE person when we're on our way to a Stanley Cup run????

[@DanielHansen-h1r]

Negative person? He is not negative at all. Dumbass

[@dnice4145]

JJ must have really liked this hire for him to make it despite the outrage he knew would ensue. I'll defer to his judgment.

[@kimomann1]

Fuck this man… Consequences for your actions two years suspended and then back on work that won’t scare anyone else from doing it again. You need to make an example so people fear doing something like this in the future. It’s like our judicial system at soft and weak and enabling.

[@christophermanning6146]

💯

[@Ace96x10]

Yes, well said. I am all for second chances, but no way is this the best possible hire, and it has an all round negative effect of "normalizing" this type pf Shettery by getting a huge paying top hockey job again. Massive stink, Reek huge.

[@dwaynesbgb]

He didn’t do anything… why should he be scared?

[@yousoufibraham]

Shame hiring someone like him after disrespecting/ignoring a player/human being no more respect for the oilers

[@steverobinson8771]

What I don't understand is... Stan Bowman is not the finest GM candidate by a country mile, he's not so good that you'd put up with this heat. Why put yourselves through this? I mean Edmonton are on the verge of a cup winning team ffs. I don't get it 🤷‍♀

[@Parture]

Everytime giving them a chance doesn't turn out. People almost always don't change. Statistically they don't so they should not have been traded for.

[@lloydzilinski4401]

The Oilers have been a team who have made several mistakes in the last three decades with some of their coaching and G.M. hires. But the one thing they seem to have avoided is bad hires in the background positions; the locker room staff, the support staff, the training staff, the front office staff. The organization started out on a nickel and a dime in the WHA, morphed into a fledgling NHL outfit with a blow hard as an owner which somehow rapidly climbed to dizzying heights, and then went back to hardscrabble hand-to-mouth existence through numerous ups and downs, and finally found financial security and now are once again poised on the verge of greatness. Through all this, the one constant has been long-term stability in the team's support staff. This is a legacy of Glen Sather and is now maybe his greatest legacy to this team, even considering that first decade, and a bit, of success. Coaches have personality clashes with players, as do G.M. staff, but at the NHL level no coach or G.M. staffer sexually abuses their players. At lower levels this has happened but not at the NHL level. That can only be done by support staff, as has been demonstrated to happen. This is a stain the Oilers have escaped, due in no small part to Glen Sather's insistance, back in 1979, to the Oilers functioning as a first class act. Sather was in the Montreal Canadiens' organization and the manner in which the team conducted itself, on and off the ice. Sather wanted and achieved that in Edmonton and this legacy remains. I don't think Stan Bowman can tell anyone in the Oilers' organization anything they don't already know because it is the team culture here. Whatever the Oilers' coaching and G.M. misadventures of the past three decades the support staff has always been first class and a classy act. The Oilers are still one of the classiest organizations in the NHL, with one of the very best fan bases in the league as well. So Stan Bowman's job here is simple; stay humble and keep this team together for a six to eight year run of greatness. The pieces are in place, just stay the course and work diligently to keep the nucleus together. It's not as easy as it sounds but it is the price Bowman must pay for winning the NHL's G.M. lottery and likely getting his name on the Stanley Cup a few more times.

[@lloydzilinski4401]

@BobsUruncle-dl7cs Please note, I absolutely do not approve of the Oilers hiring Stan Bowman. It absolutely ticks me off no end that this guy, fresh off reinstatement, wins the G.M. lottery and conceivably could have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup less than a year after his reinstatement in the league. Bowman does not deserve this reward and certainly won't have earned it. If the Oilers are Cup champions at the end of the upcoming season, it will be inspite of Stan Bowman, not because of him. Bowman's shit will follow the Oilers players all over the league for the entire upcoming season and beyond. This team and its players do not need this distraction as they try to win the Stanley Cup. My comments are reflective of the reality the Oilers organization now finds itself in, that's all. And I do know that Bowman is not a particularly good G.M. I'm scared we may be looking at Chiarelli 2.0. This situation was created by Jeff Jackson having a massive brain fart and then crapping on the fans. All that said, here we are. I guess will have to wait and see how all this new drama will affect attendance and the bottom line. Only good thing I see in all this is Stan Bowman will be really easy to fire if the team situation warrants it. And never mind Stan Bowman, Jeff Jackson better hope the Bowman hiring isn't too big a distraction for the players as it will be Jackson's rear on the line if this team starts going sideways moving forward.

[@niceasmd9890]

Edmonton fans deserved better. This is from a Canucks fan.

[@christophermanning6146]

There's at least one fan here jumping ship if they keep Bowman. I'm putting my foot down on this topic. Got any room over there?

[@niceasmd9890]

@@christophermanning6146 always have room for Canadian fans

[@Ace96x10]

Agreed!

[@BarberossaThePirate]

Lack of integrity by the oilers is astounding.

[@huyoung9153]

Thank you Dave and Bruce for your insight and measured analysis. If Kyle Beach could (and did) forgive Stan Bowman and Sheldon Kennedy endorsed him after the diligent work and restitution made, then far be it for me to second guess from the back row of the bleachers what those on the actual playing field witnessed and lived and decided after due diligence and consideration.

[@justincurtin2069]

Good job boys keep em coming

[@kenainmeshik]

Bruce, you sound better today good to hear

[@joetoh6675]

Wikipedia cannot be considered an authoritative source on anything. It's only a starting point to read up on something.

[@dwaynesbgb]

Not even that lol

[@Ace96x10]

It's shettery that often has nothing to do with reality, written by whoever wanted to make whatever up, to fool fools who are to stupid to do any real research.

[@GregPhillips-e3b]

If Bowman is out based on the Oilers social media fan base, then by default so should Jackson given he hired him and apparently is OK with something a lot don't seem to agree with. I personally don't have an issue with the hiring as it seems he has made amends and wishes to bring what he has experienced and learnt from his actions or lack of.

[@xiaosin]

It is a mixed feeling about this hiring. Although Bowman was not the offender and the one who was in charge but the baggage he bring to the Oilers is too much in the short-term. Specially the Oilers are trying to resign McDavid and Draisitl. Many said there are other qualified GMs out there but not naming one that has experience as a Stanley Cup GM and with a good track record of trades and drafts. Jackson has made it clear that he has no interest in being the GM. Most likely won't be available to mentor an inexperienced GM on a daily basis.

[@loridamsgard5647]

Jeff knew the baggage issue, weighed his other options and pulled the trigger for Stan and now he gets to handle the fallout which he had to know would be coming, as Bruce said, he is a man of his convictions. I’m disappointed but not mad as hell or anything close to that, we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

[@lloydzilinski4401]

One comment to Bruce, Mark Messier's bullying in the dressing room was legendary. But most fans, myself included, considered Messier's bullying antics good leadership skills. You do not disrespect the team and its symbols. Americans who disrespect their flag can even be legally bullied. Bullying has its place in professional sports, as a tool to reinforce respect for the organization that employs you and pads your bank account with massive amounts of money compared to an average working Joe's salary. Bullying for the sake of bullying or because of your accent or the colour of your skin is another matter entirely. But a certain level of creatively placed and timed bullying is an essential part of pro sports, whether we outside this gladiatorial circle like it or not.

[@waxedjade8641]

Bowman! As an Oilers fan this breaks my heart. We have the best fans in the world, as a reward we are stuck with this heartless monster that covered up and protected a sexual predator, allowing them to offend again and again. Until this man is fired, my wallet and support are shut off to this organization. I'm not watching a single game, buying a single jersey, or supporting them publicly in any way. Some principles cannot be compromised, and I will never support those that allow young men to be assaulted by protecting the predator. any one that stands up for Bowman is a clown and should be treated like a clown. disgusting on so many levels. shake you head Seravalli Jeff Jackson or any one that supports this guy should never be in pro sports or speak on a media platform ever again, and if any one think he deserves a second chance, then there also a clown.

[@dianedyck3474]

It almost sounds like bowman is a victim of circumstances also!

[@obelisk21]

The thing that gets me is that an employee is reporting he is a victim of a crime and the HR department of Chicago did not investigate and instead offered him an opportunity to resign. Once HR is involved in a case like this it is their responsibility to investigate and engage in legal consultation as necessary. The obvious sin on the hockey ops side is that they did not involve HR until after the cup final but the real issue is with how it was handled by the HR department of Chicago.

[@ceecam4853]

@@obelisk21 and that allowed A to go on and work w a high school team and guess what, he assaults another young man, this time a minor.

[@obelisk21]

@@ceecam4853 I get that, but that happened because the HR department did not do an investigation. An accusation had been made, but the victim did not pursue police charges and the Hawks did not pursue it either. The people whose job it is to investigate these things negotiated with the guy and let him leave voluntarily. A manager would never be privy to any actions that are going on between the victim, HR, and the accused as the victim has the right to privacy and not be the subject of company gossip. No one from the company other than HR is in a position to engage law enforcement if necessary as they would be the only ones with the details of the internal investigation.

[@ceecam4853]

@@obelisk21 SB amongst others went silent to avoid controversy, possible legal action etc Their choice ; same as Joe Paterno at U Pitt; if u turn your back once u know, u r responsible

[@obelisk21]

@@ceecam4853 No one went silent... it was reported to HR as per the corporate policy of virtually every company in North America. An accusation was brought forward and it was handed over to the people who it needed to be (although three weeks late). There is such a thing as slander and innocent until proven guilty which is why it must be investigated. The issue with hockey ops was waiting for three weeks. It was the inaction of the HR department that allowed a rapist to walk away.

[@lloydzilinski4401]

To paraphrase; Jeff Jackson says "I think the decision to bring Stan in, is one that is in the best interest of the organization for a number of reasons". So, what are these reasons and will they overcome the negative impact this hiring will have with the fans. Notably, Stan Bowman's record was built on the back of Dale Talon's solid foundation. Bowman did head up a strong championship team but did not handle the back end disintegration of the team very well at all. It may well be that the reality of the NHL salary cap era will be a constant series of top level Cup championship and top contending teams will hang around for 6 to 8 years and then catastrophically fail and go straight into the NHL teash bin at the bottom of the league. L.A. wasn't ever a dynasty. Pittsburgh is spiraling though they've had a decent run. Chicago blew up pretty quick after their three cup run. Witness what happened to Tampa Bay this off-season. So will Stan Bowman do something in Edmonton he didn't achieve in Chicago, something no one else has achieved in the salary cap era? I guess we'll have to wait and see. But if the Oilers don't win two of the next three Stanley Cups Bowman will have been a bust. Florida has gone down from the squad that finally won their first championship. The Oilers, if anything, have improved. Their biggest question is goaltending. Can Skinner improve to get to an elite status. He doesn't need Vezina worthy stats but he does need to become a clutch goaltender, making the key saves to keep games alive and giving his team a chance to outscore Skinner's misses. If Stuart Skinner takes another positive step forward in his career the Oilers will be the odds on favourite to win the Stanley Cup this coming season. And if the Oilers win this year, it will be up to Bowman (and Jackson) to keep the nucleus of this team together for at least another half a dozen years. If the Oilers win three Stanley Cups in the next six years then Stan Bowman will have earned having his name on the Cup again. Anything less than that, with this group of players and an improved Stuart Skinner, will be somewhat of a failure or worse. I place high expectations on Stan Bowman because most of the work is done already and if Stan's hiring is to be ultimately warranted then this team better bring home multiple Stanley Cups, i.e., more than two.

[@johnwilson8810]

This is the first I have heard of the Bowman/Beach situation. Sad! Bowman looks like he has paid the price. Going to Sheldon Kennedy has to be seen as really wanting to correct his past errors. HOW MANY MORE TIMES DOES HE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE? Let whoever is perfect throw the first rock! Jackson has compassion.

[@joetoh6675]

Things were going so well...if we ignore the misconduct aspect (which we can't), on the GM side, it would make a little more sense if JJ's approval is required on player transactions and contract details. I can't see a young GM like Hunter being amenable to such a restriction, he would want to call his own shots and establish his own record.

[@KillingAhhhs]

Bad bad move. Bowman didn’t build the Hawks, Dale Tallon did. Not only is Bowman a horrible person, he is also a horrible GM.

[@pjmmaloney4458]

From a strictly hockey perspective, I don’t get this hire. You’re so right - what did he ever do?

[@DanielFry-x8o]

In Australia we are supporting every one but oil

[@Oilersfan1]

Most people deserve a second chance. The Oilers can hire whoever they like. He has paid his dues.

[@KadeRiley-hq8gc]

I didn't know who he was but after looking online and seeing he was involved in the Blackhawks controversy and that he was known for sinking the Blackhawks with bad deals/trades, why did the Oilers hire this guy?

[@Zentrix-24]

My stomach will always be sour with Bowman as an oiler GM.

[@shafikpremji1806]

Loving this podcast

[@NatsdadsamI]

The person responsible is the person that committed the crime, period. Got nothing to do with Bowman. Time to put your big boy underwear on folks. If it were black and white, there would have been charges. Clearly, something sketchy about this entire situation.

[@JonSnuh]

Lol, what a crap statement. People in power who ignore wrongdoings are just as guilty.

[@NatsdadsamI]

@@JonSnuh sure they are.

[@JonSnuh]

@@NatsdadsamI so you agree and walk back your original content?

[@NatsdadsamI]

@@JonSnuh Lol clearly you missed the sarcasm.

[@JonSnuh]

@@NatsdadsamI which statement was sarcastic?!

[@stoneysopranoyukon9398]

Hate this move !

[@outbackyak5949]

Brian Lawton would have been my pick, but this was Jeff Jackson's pick, you were all singing praise last week, keep the faith in JJ and learn to forgive, sounds like Stan has made MASSIVE efforts to repent for his past dues. Lets see how it goes, give it a chance Oil Country.

[@Parture]

Jackson makes the wrong decisions when it comes to hiring management; he makes good decisions hiring players though Skinner has a horrible plus minus which is detrimental to the team.

[@wntjst]

Before David Staples starts talking from the side of his mouth and before Staples starts fully supporting Jackson/Katz on this very bad decision, Staples should have looked at his own kids and think about how he would react if ,god forbid, one of his kids were victimized in the same way. Staples really needs to watch what he says and should not in any way try to convince Oiler fans to eventually forgive or assume fans will forgive Jackson/Katz for an unforgivable decision. Staples mentions players like Kassian , Kane, Perry ,McTavish etc. and tries to compare these player's situations and signings to what Bowman did/didn't do and the very top executive job he got! There's no comparison to Bowman with these players. Dropping those names was a mistake. Staples is still a journalist and he's supposed to act like a responsible journalist . I've never liked Staples much before. Now I don't respect him much. I've always liked Bruce McCurdy as a journalist.

[@royanderson3478]

Jeff Jackson? Why

[@Gintelligence]

because nothing gets the ok without him , Bowman is a puppet on multiple strings

[@Gintelligence]

Don`t kid yourselves, Stan Bowman makes zero moves, Jackson is calling the shots , behind the scene , smoke and, mirrors and paycheques

[@zigfield723]

So then why bring on the unneeded controversy and outside distraction?

[@flip-pin-eh]

@@zigfield723 💥

[@nomadman123]

So you’ve been behind the scenes to witness all this? Awesome!

[@christophermanning6146]

Who cares? This story isn't about abilities.

[@tman6663]

Realistically..how many other organizations, and management teams would declare that, this..while their team is in the cup finals?? I highly doubt, any! Sad as it is. It’s totally, the old hockey code, and all the while, sadly..Bettman is in charge. What’s done is done, because the hockey world believes in 2nd chances, and more, we can see it..every year! Especially with the Oilers!

[@DanielHansen-h1r]

You are an idiot. Did you hear anything they talked about. Did you read the Jenner and Block report. No dumbass

[@Parture]

It's too late to be wrong. Oilers don't have another chance.

[@julesViktor]

Considering that for at least 2 years there is nothing to do apart for signing Draisaitl (may be a find a 2dn goalie) , any straw man g.m. would have been ok. There were no need for drama.

[@rednwhite67]

Let Jackson cook. We trusted him yesterday. Let's trust him today.

[@bellamydrake9343]

Guys the crime here is their silence and letting this guy stay in hockey with another organization because of their silence.

[@pjmmaloney4458]

And sexually abuse a teenage boy.

[@rakitoon]

OK, but for the sake of accuracy only --- recall that rumors that Blackhawks mgmt provided a letter of reference for Aldrich ended up being completely unfounded, per the Block and Jenner report. Even if Hawks had done everything right, Aldrich might still have gone on to harm others. The Hawks inaction made it more likely, but not inevitable, as you're suggesting in "because of their silence."

[@brentgibson565]

Seriously, calling it an " incident" is disgusting. What kind of a person calls sexual abuse " an incident"? Christ a fucking moral compass! This is a not the kind of 2nd chance the Oilers need to give.

[@WinterWoolies]

Get over it

[@christophermanning6146]

​@@WinterWoolieswhat a stupid take by you. Would you be saying that if you were the one being raped? I'm sure you'd be the tough guy sitting behind the keyboard then.

[@aaronst.pierre3080]

Is 3 years enough though? Kevin Chevaladayoff getting nothing is a crime. I think this has to be something that you don't get to be in hockey anymore. But the owner and president are the most accountable. Botterill would have been a terrible hire. But I did not Bowman at all.

[@Parture]

I don't admire Jackson for turning stupid.

[@kirttiessen6878]

What exactly did bowman do? Fans acting like he’s the rapist

[@WinterWoolies]

Soft little emotional muffins

[@bobdakers3794]

Thats just it he did nothing and let the piece of shite get away with it!

[@audiquagaming]

The oilers are done for now

[@jamaulkelly1316]

I get the rationale with second chances and circumstances .. just question why you want to bring this sort of attention to the team, it’s totally not necessary. We didn’t need a super strong GM (with Jeff acting as GM anyway), not that I’m suggesting Bowman is strong btw. We needed a character guy, this poor team gets enough negativity as it is from own fans and opposing fan base with McDavid jealousy, Nurse, Kane, Woodcroft, Perry, and just the overall pressure to perform. Dumb move all around, better or at least more pleasing and character choices were available. Big thumbs down. Extremely poor timing, and even if the outcome is a SC does not justify or mean it was a good decision. Outcome does not determine good/bad decision.

[@Hexadecimal_QueenofChaos]

the Oilers decided having every other Canadian team and team in the west hating them wasn't enough, they wanted their own city to turn on them as well. IMO Kane brought lots of bad karma and negativity to the team, a garbage character is toxic for a team game. if this hiring further kills the team then its karma, they have no one to blame but themselves.

[@craigamills8492]

McTavish, Kane, Perry - why not Bowman

[@outbackyak5949]

Kassian too!

[@shadowspeedx8585]

Cancel forever culture

[@rossmartens]

My view on this is what exactly did he do is it possible he never really knew and just didn't act on information he was given like ibdont get it 🤔 let his work show us what kinda guy he is

[@newfieguyNL]

Was not a 2:39 good hire stan is a clown ehst trade did he ever win jeff should have been fired

[@hibby21]

controversy aside. I don't think bowman has not been a great GM and I think there was better candidates. why take the risk and bring this distraction to the team.

[@yalksen]

Before watching this I am already a little concerned about David's takes on this. Well, let's see.

[@yalksen]

The apologetic explanations starts at about minute 20.00 - yup, expected.

[@jrock4525]

He fkn ignored the complaint. Treated the victim like a piece of dirt. Zero compassion for a human being

[@neillore7332]

I am beyond disgusted. Such a damning indictment of hockey culture in general and the Oilers front office in particular. F minus minus.

[@neillore7332]

I wish I could say it's unbelievable 40% of hockey fans are okay with this, but at this point I've come to expect it. Hockey culture is driving me away from the NHL.

[@kevinhurley4815]

It's gross

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

I'm not worried about this hiring...but at least it gets my mind off of the Trump thing. How does a 5'10" sexually assault a 6'3" NHLer....not sure.....Did he go "Bill Cosby" on him?...because if none of that happened and it was me....I would have quit hockey , get another job. My integrity is much more important to me than a hockey career....serious

[@ColleenF-b1r]

What? So now we're taking a creepy guy??

[@freedom1028]

From what I see on X, it's more like 95% against the hire.

[@gregsgoogle2947]

Here’s some legal reality. Many sexual crimes in America are class A felonies... that & all forms of murder. Class A felony crimes do NOT have a statute of limitations, meaning at any time in the future if more evidence surfaces, charges can be filed on Bowman. The worst problem is he should have been criminally charged for not reporting this incident to police. Murders & physical sex crimes (Class A felonies) must be reported to the police by law. If you or me have evidence a Class A felony was committed & didn’t report it we would certainly face jail time. The Oilers GM is not a convicted criminal but he should be. And may well be charged in the future if new evidence is presented. Criminal sex cases are never closed & their investigation is always open. Just like murder cases.

[@stinkfinger630]

Signing Bowman?! Bad optics, bad vibes, bad decision. Oilers are rotten at the top, starting with that oddball guy Katz ( sexual predator accusations); and now ‘I ignored sexual abuse by a member of my coaching staff’ Bowman? Bad.

[@oldjoe58]

So if Knoblauch gets fired mid season, are they gonna bring in Graham James to replace him?

[@zigfield723]

Something just isn't adding up here, there must be something not being said as to REALLY why this happened. Why would Jeff Jackson bring on this controversy and outside noise to THIS team, at THIS time, with so much momentum and so much on the line, Hockey history, Canadian Hockey history,. Connor McDavid factor,.... I just don't understand it at the slightest. Bowman doesn't even have a strong record as gm with the moves he's made!! Wtf man. Jeff Jackson just dropped a huge turd in the punchbowl.

[@DanielHansen-h1r]

Well you are a dumbass. Calgary and Vancouver would love to have morons like you.

[@Ace96x10]

I'm all for second chances. even 3rd chances in some case's. My problem with this is NO Gdam way this person is the best possible hire for GM. Wow.. how many qualified people were passed over for this to happen?

[@Parture]

If I was Connor McDavid, I would demand that a new manager be hired, and I would not only demand it but enforce it; by that I mean Connor will not play for the Oilers until the new manager is fired.

[@kenshiroFNS]

New coach?

[@juleswinnfield6930]

Why a new coach?

[@Parture]

@@kenshiroFNS I meant manager

[@DS-hs3qp]

Why would the Oilers get rid of their coach, snowflake?

[@anythingforabuck]

Good thing you're not Connor McDavid.

[@rakitoon]

Imagine if McCurdy had managed to speak for more than 5 minutes total in this 50 minute pod, in which Staples says he DOESN'T want to talk about it. 🙄

[@Parture]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp7OZp-JqJKjp7c Stan Bowman makes me sick

[@WinterWoolies]

If they win a cup , I'll let them tickle my bum for nothing. 😋

[@FC-py6xk]

But does CHINESE FOOD make you sick??

[@Parture]

@@FC-py6xk No I don't get sick eating chinese food; I do get sick when I see someone is morally bankrupt. Do you have a conscience?

[@FC-py6xk]

@@Parture What does having a conscience have anything to do with Chinese food?

[@Parture]

@@FC-py6xk You brought up Chineses food, not me.

[@kelseywalker2342]

I hear Carter Hart is available, maybe the oilers should sign him next

[@lyalclough2612]

Because Jackson signed Skinner, he can do no wrong? 🙄 Stan Bowman is not Kassian. Bad take after bad take.

[@hazelnut49]

Worst decision ever by the Oilers. Even with the incident in Chicago on the side, he is not a good GM.

[@DanielHansen-h1r]

LOL. Dumbass.

[@emilealexei8489]

Sounds cruel but maybe with less interest ticket prices will come down....🤔

[@TH-tl6sy]

How about talking about Hockey and the Fact Bowman is Mike Millbury 2.0? Jackson is a Tool! Lousy GM, Lousy Character, bred a Lousy Culture.

[@WinterWoolies]

😂😂😂😂 I love the belly aching.

[@TH-tl6sy]

@SF1886 "The Fact that Bowman is Mike Milbury 2.0" And Jackson is a Tool for hiring him. He's a Tool for giving Perry another contract and at a million as well. Oh look he convinced some aging vets to sign for less to take another shot at the cup. And convinced some free agents to sign with a cup favorite. Jeff Skinner never been in the playoffs and just got paid $22 million in June to NOT play hockey. Do you think for a guy that has $7.5 mil this year and never been in the playoffs is hard to convince to make another $3 mil for a SC favorite team and take a run at the cup? Anyone could've made those deals. We've seen them a million times before. Kane Buy out signs for less to play with the oiler. Perry Buy out signs for less to make a run with the oilers. Kyle Turris bought out by Nashville signs for peanuts with the oilers. But this hiring of one of the worst GM in NHL history shows he's a Tool.

[@scotthall321]

I'm sorry Yall, but I disagree with the 60% of Oiler Faithful who believe this is a Bad Hire... Even by removing in context the 2nd Chancers who came here and have turned their Lives around and made a Positive Mark on the team as Players, they have also been Positive Figures in our Community... We know who they are... Second of All, are you all forgetting that Kenny was leaving, and Jeff has come here as CEO and made the fan base ecstatic by who he has brought in, and also retained?!?! Coffey comes back as well... Pause for a moment and remember that excitement We all felt with the moves Jackson made without himself as GM... YALL KNOW HE DIDNT WANT THE JOB!! But so far, so good according to pundants til this morning... I realize it's history isn't great with Stan in Chicago for wrong decisions or In Some cases, Silence and underperformed at times for sure with the outcome and devistation caused to those Players and Families during the Scandal... But this is still a results matter business, and Bowman won Stanley Cups... Give some credit to Kennedy, Beech and Bowman, and remember the 2nd chances given here to players and coaches since McTavish in the early 80s.... Then use your short term memory to come to terms with hiring Bowman as GM... I'm sorry if yall disagree, but is this really where we are going to all of a sudden?? Now we should disagree with Jeff, Mr. Katz etc after what we have seen this Offseason... Give this some room To breath, and I believe the Stanley Cups will continue to fill the south entrance of Roger's Place next July.... Humbly, Scott Hall

[@normmmcamp921]

...is there a line that Jeff Jackson would not cross in the search of a GM? Would there be any number of season ticket cancellations that would get his attention? ...just wondering if any type of a moral compass exists inside of this man.

[@Parture]

Oilers cant win with Stan Bowman.

[@Parture]

There is no way Oilers can win the Stanley Cup with such baggage as Stan Bowman.