Oilers GM Stan Bowman weighs in on Stanley Cup hunt after rebuilding Blackhawks

Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman opened up about the team’s Stanley Cup chase and how he enjoys the challenge of rebuilding franchises and getting them back to the top. In a phone interview with Sportsnet, Bowman talked about the Oilers' upcoming schedule, prospective trade strategy and the ins and outs of managing a mega-hockey franchise in the NHL.

Bowman was asked about his experience rebuilding Stanley Cup-winning teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and whether the Oilers were a similar project. The Edmonton team was a Stanley Cup finalist last season. Bowman said that he enjoyed the challenge of putting teams together in different ways in successive seasons.

"Yes, I think there's some accuracy to that. It is a challenge, but it's something that I actually enjoy, putting the pieces together in a different way but keeping the key pieces in place that are critical to your team success,” he said.

“We’re discussing who else could we add to the mix that could be complementary players. I embrace the challenge and try to find players. It's exciting to see when it starts to come together.”

The Oilers GM also backed Kris Knoblauch’s tactics on the ice. He also praised the effort and form of the players and the way the head coach was maximizing their potential.

“Kris has the foresight to try different things, so that when we're in a game and things aren't going well, we can go to combinations that are different for the game, but not totally new,” he added.

Stan Bowman asked about Evander Kane’s return to Oilers roster

Oilers forward Evander Kane has not played a game this season. He has been recovering after multiple surgeries in the preseason to repair hernias, hip adductor muscles and two torn abdominal muscles. When asked about the 33-year-old’s progress, Stan Bowman said:

“I don't have any new update right now. Evander has been doing his rehab, but as far as his timeline and all that, I don't have anything new to share.”

With the trade deadline two months away, the Oilers GM agreed that they would need to decide on Kane soon.

“Very true. We’ll need clarity on that for sure, when he's available and all that stuff. It can impact how much cap space we have. They do go hand in hand and we should be getting an update very soon,” he added.

The Oilers have avoided putting Kane on the long-term injured reserve list, but that might change based on his recovery timeline.