Stan Bowman is Back, and All Too Soon.

(Photo By Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports)

The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they have hired Stan Bowman as General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. He is the first of the former Chicago Blackhawks executives to be rehired within the NHL following the revelation of the Kyle Beach sexual assault case.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reinstated Bowman, former GM of the Blackhawks, and Joel Quenneville, former head coach of the Blackhawks, and Al MacIsaac, former Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Blackhawks. This reinstatement comes only three years after they were forced to resign due to an independent investigation finding that the Chicago Blackhawks mishandled sexual assault allegations.

Kyle Beach, a Black Ace for the Blackhawks in their 2010 cup run, was sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldridge. Beach’s report of the incident was ignored to avoid disrupting the team’s pursuit of the Cup. Aldridge was quietly let go after the season, receiving a letter of recommendation which enabled him to secure another job, where he assaulted another individual.

Bowman, Quenneville, and MacIsaac were reinstated on July 1st. In a statement issued, the NHL said, "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."

While Bowman is a successful General Manager, winning the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013, and 2015, some matters transcend winning. The Oilers, pressured to win the Cup before the contracts of star players McDavid and Draisaitl expire, have stirred controversy with Bowman’s hiring, leaving many NHL fans disheartened.