Stan Bowman Speaks on Oilers Being Organization of Second Chances – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers dominated the headlines on Wednesday. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was the team’s first skate, either. Instead, it was the result of a decision made by their management group that has generated a ton of conversation and criticism.

The Oilers shocked the vast majority of the hockey world when they announced that they’d signed Alex Formenton to a one-year, $850,000 contract. The move was greeted by plenty of outrage, as the 28-year-old was one of five members from Canada’s 2018 World Junior roster charged with sexual assault in early 2024. All five players pled not guilty and were acquitted in July 2025.

Though acquitted, the Oilers and their management team were well aware of the optics, and undoubtedly knew criticism would be headed their way. That said, taking what some would refer to as second chances is nothing new to this group.

Oilers Have Made Several Controversial Moves

Many teams in professional sports value winning more than anything else, and the Oilers are certainly no different. They’ve brought in several players who have had some character concerns, whether rightfully or wrongfully, in the past. And, while some haven’t paid off in terms of on-ice results, others certainly have.

One recent name that comes to mind is Evander Kane. The Oilers were heavily criticized for bringing the now 35-year-old in, with plenty of that criticism coming from their own fan base. Kane went on to play some of the best hockey of his career in Edmonton, finishing his tenure with 62 goals and 111 points in 161 games.

Other players who come to mind when thinking about second chances given by the Oilers organization include Corey Perry, Jake Virtanen, Zack Kassian and, looking way back, Craig McTavish. While Virtanen never worked out, the other three all wound up having success in Edmonton. It’s not only players who have gotten second chances by the organization, either.

A perfect and recent example is Mike Babcock, who was hired to replace Kris Knoblauch earlier in the offseason. The 63-year-old was seemingly done in the NHL after resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets before ever coaching a game ahead of the 2023-24 season. His resignation came after it was reported that he had been asking players to show photos on their cell phones.

And, of course, there’s Oilers general manager Stan Bowman, who was placed on an indefinite ban by the NHL in Oct. 2021. The ban came after an independent investigation found that the Chicago Blackhawks had mishandled sexual assault allegations made by Kyle Beach. Bowman’s ban was eventually lifted by the NHL in early July 2024, and he was hired by the Oilers a short time later.

Speaking of Bowman, he spoke with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug on Wednesday shortly after news broke of Formenton’s signing. During the conversation, he acknowledged the fact that the Oilers have indeed been an organization that has taken its fair share of chances on individuals with a checkered past.

“It is something that has been more than just once or twice with the Oilers is giving people an opportunity to learn from situations and you go through a process,” Bowman said. “I think this one is no different than some of the other ones referenced and I think all those people talked about have shown a willingness to try and be good people, be good teammates, be good citizens, be good members of the community and try to give back.

“Primarily your role is to play hockey or be part of the organization but you’re part of a larger collective in the community, and you want to try and make a positive influence. I think that those people, pretty much across the board, have done that. You’re right that the Oilers have probably been different than some organizations who may not be as willing to do that, and I guess to each their own.”

Oilers Not Concerned Over Negative Publicity

What the Formenton signing further reiterates is that the Oilers organization, from ownership down, isn’t afraid to deal with negative backlash. Edmonton clearly believes that its process of evaluating individuals with complicated pasts is worth following, even when it knows there will be significant criticism that comes with it. That doesn’t mean every decision will work out, either on the ice or in the court of public opinion, but the organization has repeatedly shown that it’s willing to take that risk.