Alex Formenton Signs with the Edmonton Oilers for League Minimum

The Edmonton Oilers signed former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton to a one year, $850 thousand contract after a four-year absence from the NHL. 

In 2017, the six-foot-three winger with middle-six ceiling was drafted by Ottawa at 42nd overall. 

In 2022, Ottawa couldn’t come to a contract agreement with the RFA. His tenure from 2017-2022 ended with 39 points in 109 games.

His one full season was 2021-22, where he scored 32 points in 79 games with mediocre underlying analytics.

Ottawa kept his rights while he played for HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss National League. Formenton’s RFA rights expired this offseason and Ottawa officially cut ties with him. 

Throughout those four years was the 2018 Hockey Canada WJC investigation and trial. Formenton was one of five players accused of sexual assault and took a leave of absence for the trial during the 2024-25 season. He was acquitted and played his final NL season last year.

He finished with 52 points in 88 games across three seasons.

That isn’t high production for Swiss hockey. Last season, Formenton was 5th in points amongst his team and 82nd league wide. 

NHL draft busts Filip Zadina and Lias Andersson outscored Formenton. Jimmy Vesey is a penalty-killing bottom sixer and outscored Formenton. Tomas Tatar aged out of the NHL and outscored Formenton.

Sami Niku, a defenseman with only two NHL goals, outscored Formenton.

Formenton’s poor NHL defensive play followed him to Switzerland, and he sat in the penalty box for 142 minutes across his 88 games. 

The 26 year old wasn’t NHL caliber in Switzerland and has no room to grow.

There are former NHLers in the Swiss NL who are higher caliber than Formenton and don’t have his PR risk. 

Jesse Puljujarvi is a former fan-favorite Oiler in the NL. Last season, the 28 year old was 3rd in points with 52 in 52 games for Geneve-Servette HC. He’s a six-foot-four power forward with excellent defensive ability that can contribute to any NHL 4th line. 

Sonny Milano is slated to play his first season in the NL for SC Bern. He had his best NHL seasons on the Anaheim Ducks when he scored a 42 point 82 game pace. He brought decent underlying numbers to the Washington Capitals, but played under 9 minutes per game. He’s an explosive skater who produced with middle-six ice time. 

Formenton is projected to play on Edmonton’s fourth line. He could move up if Matthew Savoie, Isaac Howard or Vasily Podkolzin disappoint in a middle-six role, a disastrous scenario for Edmonton.

A note from the Asterisk Sports team:

When you sign a contract with an NHL team, you are given the privilege to represent your team, the NHL and hockey as a whole. You, even if as an AHL player, become a role model for aspiring kids in the stands to look up to and model themselves after. By signing Formenton, the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL are perpetuating the worst aspects of hockey culture. As a result, it whitewashes sexual violence and teaches the next generation of players that it's okay to contribute to it.