Wayne Gretzky voices his concerns over the hiring of Stan Bowman

The Oilers had a successful season, reaching the Stanley Cup final before losing in seven games to the Florida Panthers. This achievement gave fans hope for the future. However, much of that goodwill was lost when the team announced the hiring of Bowman, who had been suspended from the NHL for his role in the Kyle Beach scandal while with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Wayne Gretzky hasn't commented on the hiring yet, but earlier this month on NHL on TNT, he expressed concern about the Bowman/Blackhawks situation. Gretzky highlighted the importance of protecting young players entering the NHL.

The Oilers' hiring of Bowman has led to backlash, causing Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson to make his social media profile private. The announcement was made while key sports reporters in Edmonton were unavailable, sparking accusations that the team timed the news to avoid scrutiny.

Critics question why the Oilers would hire Bowman despite the backlash, suggesting that there were other qualified candidates available. The decision appears to reflect poor judgment from the team's leadership.

Credit: bladeofsteel
Wayne Gretzky shares concerns on new Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman