Team

Betting

OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA

Edmonton Oilers sign Alex Formenton to one-year contract

Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports

By Michael Menzies

Sep 9, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 9, 2026, 12:23 EDT

Comments

The Edmonton Oilers have added another forward before training camp begins, one with a controversial past.

Former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton has signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Oilers, the team announced Wednesday morning. He was on the ice with his new teammates shortly after the deal wad made public.

Brenden Escott

@BrendenEscott

·Follow

Some of Formenton’s first work in #Oilers colours

Watch on X

4:14 PM · Sep 9, 2026

Read more on X

Formenton was one of the five former World Junior players charged with sexual assault stemming from a high-profile 2018 incident, along with Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Dillon Dube. He was acquitted at trial.

Formenton hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, his only full season in the league. That season, he scored 18 goals and 32 points.

He was originally drafted in the second round, 47th overall in 2017. In his NHL career, he’s played 109 games, scoring 23 goals and 39 points.

However, since 2022-23, Formenton has played in the Swiss League with Ambri-Piotta. He missed all of 2024-25 because of the trial, which required him to return to Canada.

Whether Formenton will be effective is an open question. While he’s a big body, standing six-foot-three, 195 pounds, and has been noted in the past for his speed, it’s been multiple seasons since he’s played in the NHL. The recently turned 26-year-old was fifth on his team in scoring in 2025-26 with 13 goals and 23 points.

However, he did play a lot of penalty-kill minutes in Ottawa, over 150 minutes in 2021-22, the second most among Sens forwards. Formenton’s role would primarily be as a depth option, as the Oilers will be without Matt Savoie for an undisclosed period after training camp, and Mattias Janmark has not yet recovered from his shoulder surgery. Both would figure into Edmonton’s PK plans.

Whether fans like it or not, the Edmonton Oilers are becoming an organization for people who are looking for second (or third) chances, and who’ve gone through suspensions, suspected wrongdoing, or criminal trials. Look no further than the general manager Stan Bowman, head coach Mike Babcock, or players like Evander Kane.

Players will report to training camp soon, gearing up for the season on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

PRESENTED BY SOUTHVIEW ACURA

At Southview Acura, luxury isn’t just what you drive, it’s how you’re treated. Family owned and operated, we’re proud to offer an exceptional selection of new and certified pre-owned Acuras, backed by a service experience built on trust and precision. Whether it’s your first visit or your next, our team is committed to excellence every step of the way. Visit Southview Acura today or online at www.SouthviewAcura.com, where luxury meets reality.