Wayne Gretzky voiced concerns, highlighting the importance of player safety, particularly for young prospects:
Parents and fans share these concerns, posing questions the Oilers must address. Oilers President Jeff Jackson and Bowman emphasized that Bowman has learned from his past mistakes and engaged with affected players to understand their experiences.
Despite Jackson's successful management, including key free-agent signings, this decision has cast a shadow. Jackson and Bowman claim to share a unified vision for the team's future, ensuring past incidents won't recur in Edmonton. However, public and player perceptions will be crucial as the team progresses under this new leadership.