Friedman: Calgary Flames have ‘some interest’ in Stan Bowman
By Ryan Pike
11 months agoCould disgraced former Chicago Blackhawks executive Stan Bowman be nearing a return to the National Hockey League? That answer is unclear, but per a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Saturday night’s intermission edition of 32 Thoughts, the Calgary Flames are a team that has “some interest” in his services.
Here’s Friedman, transitioning into the discussion out of an update on Gerard Gallant’s exit from the New York Rangers:
“One of the names that has been floated around as a potential successor for him [Gerard Gallant] in New York is Joel Quenneville. I think there’s been some question about exactly what his eligibility is. The same goes for Stan Bowman. I think Pittsburgh and Calgary are among the teams that have shown some interest in Bowman as well. From what I’ve been told, teams are free to talk to both Quenneville and Bowman, but neither individual can be hired until they’ve been cleared by the commissioner, which has not happened yet.”
Both Quenneville and Bowman were deemed ineligible for NHL employment following the October 2021 release of an investigation by the law firm Jenner and Block into how the Chicago Blackhawks handled allegations of sexual assault committed by then-video coach Brad Aldrich against player Kyle Beach in 2010. The lead investigator stated that Bowman’s failure to report the alleged assault eventually led to the perpetrator committing further acts of sexual abuse. (ESPN has many more details regarding the situation.)
Following the release of the report, Quenneville resigned from the Florida Panthers and Bowman resigned from his positions with the Blackhawks and USA Hockey. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for “inadequate procedures and mishandling” of the situation in a scathing press release that ended like this:
“…As to four of those individuals (i.e., John McDonough and Jay Blunk and, as of today, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac), they are no longer employed by the Chicago Blackhawks and are no longer employed in the League. Should they wish to re-enter the League in some capacity in the future, I will require a meeting with me in advance of their accepting any NHL Club-related position in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place.”
After Quenneville’s resignation from Florida, the league added this in another release:
“We thank the Panthers’ organization for working with us to ensure that a thorough process was followed. Given the result, there is no need for any further action by the NHL regarding Mr. Quenneville at this time. However, should he wish to re-enter the League in some capacity in the future, I will require a meeting with him in advance in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place.”
The son of NHL legend Scotty Bowman, the younger Bowman served as general manager in Chicago from 2009 to 2021. He was part of teams that won three Stanley Cups – in 2010, 2013 and 2015 – but it would go without saying that those championships have become extremely tainted by what’s come to light since.
The Flames are currently without a general manager since the departure of Brad Treliving due to the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2022-23. President of hockey operations Don Maloney is serving in the role on an interim basis until a replacement for Treliving can be found.
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