After being banned for more than two years for their roles in the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual assault scandal with former player Kyle Beach, the NHL made the puzzling decision to reinstate ex-Chicago general manager Stan Bowman and ex-head coach Joel Quenneville to full league service on Monday afternoon.
Both are eligible to work again starting on July 10 after the NHL published a milquetoast press release citing how they’ve “demonstrated sincere remorse.”
Letting Bowman and Quenneville work in hockey in any capacity again is disgusting enough. Given their respective roles in poorly addressing a sexual assault on their own team — to say the least — they are two people who should probably never step foot near any ice rink again.
The kicker is that the NHL dropped the official announcement of Bowman and Quenneville’s reinstatement on a late Monday afternoon of an exciting start to the 2024 free agency period. Why, it’s almost as if the league wanted as little attention as possible on letting two alleged monsters work in pro hockey once more:
#NHL announces that former #Blackhawks executives Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville and Al MacIsaac have been reinstated and are now eligible to seek employment in the league again.
Can be hired after July 10. pic.twitter.com/AVjkHLbeJP
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2024
Every time you think the NHL has turned a corner, it goes and willingly steps on a rake like this. It is not a stretch to imagine that the league knew people would rightfully frown upon Bowman and Quenneville’s reinstatement. Because in no way, shape, or form is a two-year ban sufficient for what these two men were reportedly responsible for. Most would likely agree that their NHL bans should have been permanent.
So, rather than have a zero-tolerance policy regarding even any partial enabling of sexual assault, the NHL seemingly tried to drop the news of Bowman and Quenneville’s reinstatement right as they thought everyone who follows their animated husk of a league would be drooling over player acquisition news.
It’s transparent and it’s awful. NHL leaders who green-lighted both the reinstatements and the timing of the Bowman and Quenneville news should be ashamed.
NHL fans ripped the league’s decision and timing of Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville’s reinstatement
the nhl will never treat survivors with any respect. no amount of "trying to change from the inside" will work. this is hockey culture. this is what they're okay with. they don't even want to hide it — they constantly show everyone what they are and they don't care. https://t.co/irsU6mQPLr
— jen ramos eisen 🇵🇭🍉 (@jenmacramos) July 1, 2024
What an awful and disgusting mistake the NHL is making here
And to bury it under all the news of day 1 of free agency is shameless. Gross. https://t.co/NXM0zBzJxG
— The Bratt Pack (@TheBrattPack63) July 1, 2024
Glad that they've participated in those types of programs, but their inaction helped lead to a minor being sexually assaulted by Brad Aldrich. Their reinstatement by the league is truly appalling. https://t.co/Q3xHbTjzJx
— James Neveau (@JamesNeveau) July 1, 2024
Releasing this news on a day when it could easily get buried by free agency news just goes to show that they know deep down this is not a good decision and it will bring about instant backlash. Shame on the NHL for this 🤬 https://t.co/ACS6RjbEbc
— Nico Hischier Captaincy Defender 😈 (@donnaaa) July 1, 2024
The NHL announces that Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville, and Al MacIsaac have been reinstated on the opening day of free agency. They are obviously hoping to bury it. Do not let them. Do not forget what these men. Stand with Kyle Beach and stand with victims of abuse.
— avery 🏳️⚧️ (@admbeaumont) July 1, 2024
The news that Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville and Al MacIsaac are now eligible to work in the NHL again (and I'm sure they'll be gainfully employed soon) is just…
The timing is quite bad. After over 100 players sign free agent contracts, the NHL sort of "news dumps" it.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 1, 2024