Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman, who was hired last July, is nearing the one-year mark with the club. While his first season in Oil Country wasn’t perfect, it could be considered a success overall. After all, his team reached the Stanley Cup Final but came up short against a stronger Florida Panthers squad. Bowman inherited a roster with core pieces already in place and focused on making depth adjustments to round out his roster. With that in mind, here’s a look at five key moves he made that helped shape the Oilers’ strong 2024–25 season. Bowman swung a deal with the San Jose Sharks last August, acquiring defenceman Ty Emberson in exchange for Cody Ceci and a third-round draft pick. When speaking about the young blueliner, the Oilers’ GM said, “He’s got a really nice skill set, and I think the other thing I like about him is that he’s in that age range. He’s a 24-year-old, and we haven’t seen his best days yet. I think he’s coming into his own.” There was early hope that Emberson could step into a second-pai
