Insider Frank Seravalli makes a strange plea for Stan Bowman's NHL return

Yesterday Sheldon Kennedy, co-found of The Respect Group and a long-time advocate for supporting abuse victims in hockey, endorsed former NHL executive Stan Bowman in his quest to return to the big leagues. 

Bowman, of course, has been suspended by the NHL for his role in the 2010 Brad Aldrich scandal that rocked the Chicago Blackhawks and the entire NHL.

Support for Bowman's return seems to be gaining steam as rumors about him joining the Edmonton Oilers' front-office also gain steam.

Earlier this week, NHL insider Frank Seravalli made an impassioned speech on Edmonton radio calling for Bowman's return.

Check it out:

Maybe I'm out to lunch, but does this come across as very bizarre to anyone else?

Wow... was that a paid ad spot by the Bowman family?

Seravalli must have some inside knowledge about the situation here because it strikes me as very odd for him to be going to bat for Bowman and the Oilers, a man and a team that he has no discernible attachment to. Frankly (pun intended), it sounds to me like the stage is set for Bowman's return and media members like Seravalli are just laying the groundwork so that fans aren't completely shocked when Bowman is hired by an NHL team. 

Thoughts, Oilers fans? How would you feel with this guy running your team?

Read below for yesterday's report on Kennedy's endorsement of Bowman, published by Hockey Feed staff writer Chris Gooselin.

It has recently been reported that the Edmonton Oilers would look into the possibility of hiring Stan Bowman as their next general manager. The team (or any other interested in getting Bowman as GM) could be closer than ever as the former Chicago Blackhawks’ general manager has received the support and recommendation from none other than Sheldon Kennedy, Co-founder Respect Group.

As you remember, Bowman resigned his position in 2021 after revelations came to light about the cover up involving the sexual assaults of Kyle Beach that went unaddressed by the team. Bowman was recently re-instated by the NHL and is free to seek official employment starting on July 10.

In a letter shared on social media on Wednesday, Kennedy states that Bowman is ready to return to the NHL after he got help to learn more about the issues of sexual abuse and the critical role of bystanders in confronting and addressing maltreatment effectively. As a sexual abuse victim in a case that rocked the hockey world in the 1990s, Kennedy has spent the past 20-plus years of his life helping to reshape the grassroots of hockey and make the sport a safer place. In his letter he says: 

"I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine care and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently. During that period, we spoke almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what he could have done differently and, most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.

“Stan exemplifies this to me. During our many conversations he took accountability for his actions and genuinely wanted to learn how to do better. His desire to acknowledge his mistakes and make amends with Kyle was sincere.

“Stan understood this and agreed completely. I invited him to work with our team to help us build on our vision of the Respect Charter. He accepted and volunteered nearly full-time hours to help develop the program.

“So why am I writing this piece? I believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization due to his acknowledgment of past mistakes and his relentless efforts to make the locker room/game safer for everyone. He possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area. I feel building a strong and healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe Stan will carry this message within the hockey eco system, which can only help. Lastly and most importantly I feel that Stan will do everything in his power to make sure what happened to Kyle Beach (who is a hero in my opinion) will not happen to anyone else. “

Insider Frank Seravalli recently explained how Bowman would be considered to become the next GM in Edmonton, and Kennedy’s letter would surely help him to get the job.

Seravall said, “Bowman will become a top candidate for Oilers GM vacancy. Believe he was on Edmonton’s radar when Jeff Jackson was hired last summer though still ineligible then.”

Earlier this month, the NHL lifted its ban on long-time coach Joel Quenneville and executives Bowman and Al MacIsaac, and today’s letter of recommendation from Kennedy could seal the deal for Bowman.

(The original post from Respect Group has since been deleted.)