Oilers’ Recent Moves Are Making Them Harder to Root For

The Edmonton Oilers have made some questionable decisions in recent years and haven’t employed good people. They strongly believe in second chances, which is commendable to some degree.

They gave Evander Kane and Corey Perry a second chance after their previous contracts were terminated. Both those players thrived in Edmonton and were great contributors. However, that’s not always the case.

They currently employ people who have lost the public’s respect and, frankly, don’t deserve another chance. As a result, they’ve become extremely unlikeable, all thanks to the front office.

Oilers Don’t Have Morals

Winning is the most important thing in professional sports, and teams will do whatever it takes to do so. The Oilers have taken that to the next level and have prioritized winning over their morals.

It all started when they hired Stan Bowman as their general manager in July, 2024. Bowman came with a winning pedigree as a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks. But his last championship was over a decade ago. However, people weren’t talking about that. They were talking about how his Blackhawks tenure ended and the scandal surrounding him.

Bowman resigned as general manager of the Blackhawks in October 2021 after an investigation revealed that leadership mishandled and failed to act on sexual assault allegations against video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. Edmonton hired him just three years after his resignation. He hasn’t been a successful general manager in many years and came with a ton of baggage. The organization compromised their morals for a mediocre hire.

Then, things got worse when they hired Mike Babcock as their next head coach. Babcock also came with a ton of baggage and hasn’t won anything in over 15 years. After he left the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, president Brendan Shanahan stated that Babcock’s coaching tactics weren’t appropriate or acceptable. There were allegations of mental abuse.

Then, Babcock got hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but things quickly soured. He resigned in 2023 before even coaching a game. The NHL opened an investigation, but cleared him to find employment. Just because he was cleared doesn’t mean he’s a good person. The Oilers were willing to give him another opportunity. It’s okay to give second chances, but Babcock has already had multiple chances and failed every time. The organization doesn’t value character, and it shows.

Signing Formenton Was the Final Straw

Finally, the Oilers recently signed Alex Formenton to a one-year deal with an $850,000 cap hit. This move should be the final straw. Formenton has spent the last few seasons in the Swiss league and wasn’t impressive. There’s no reason to believe he will make an impact in the NHL. This signing is not worth his baggage.

Formenton was one of five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team charged with sexual assault. Following a highly publicized trial, all five men were acquitted in July 2025 and eventually reinstated into the NHL.

Just because he was acquitted doesn’t mean he deserves another NHL opportunity. He’s not someone the fan base will want to cheer for. Neither is Bowman nor Babcock. The Oilers had a great story in 2024, only one win away from the Stanley Cup. Now, nobody outside Edmonton will want to see them win, and they may even lose some dedicated fans because of these actions.

Oilers Lost a Superfan

The Oilers lost the support of a superfan because of this Formenton signing. Mary Loewen, affectionately known as “Momma Stanley” among Oilers fans for dressing as the Stanley Cup during the playoffs, said she’d no longer support the team.

“I am deeply disappointed by the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Alex Formenton. Although he was acquitted in court, I cannot ignore my conscience or what this decision represents to me. As a sexual assault survivor, I must stand by my morals and stand with the woman at the centre of this case. For that reason, as long as Formenton remains an Oiler, I cannot and will not support or cheer for this team”, she stated.

Momma Stanley is a highly recognizable figure in Oil Country, and she’s probably not the only fan who feels this way. The Oilers organization is actively turning their fanbase away with their lack of morals and awful decision-making, and they should be ashamed.

The Oilers are a public relations nightmare, and they deserve all the backlash they get. Keep following The Hockey Writers for all your NHL content as we approach puck drop.