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Babcock says Formenton could be ‘difference-maker’ for Oilers after scoring in pre-season debut

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

By Zach Laing

Sep 19, 2026, 23:30 EDTUpdated: Sep 20, 2026, 00:01 EDT

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The mood outside Rogers Place was much different from the mood inside Rogers Place on Saturday night.

While a group of 100 protesters gathered outside the home rink of the Edmonton Oilers ahead of their pre-season game against the Winnipeg Jets, making their displeasure known about the team’s controversial signing of winger Alex Formenton, the same couldn’t be heard inside.

In fact, when he tucked home his first pre-season goal, there weren’t any boos inside.

Outside, protesters’ signs and chants made their stance known.

“Acquitted does not equal innocent,” “drunk isn’t consent,” and “acquitted fourth-liner over lifelong fans … really, Bowman?” were among the signs seen by an Edmonton Sun reporter, while those gathered chanted “Formie’s got to go, no means no.” Among those in the crowd were Oilers superfan Mama Stanley, who earlier this month said she would no longer support the team in the wake of Formenton’s signing.

Formenton himself, meanwhile, was twice avoidant of questions about fans’ anger at his signing.

“Yeah, to be honest, I’ve been laser-focused on trying to make this team and get better every day,” he said. “And whatever role that I have on this team, trying to perfect that. So, I’ve had laser focus on getting better each day.”

Asked again if he’s been trying to cut out “outside noise,” Formenton doubled down.

“Yeah, like I said before, my main focus is getting better here. And I want to do everything possible to make the most out of this opportunity.”

The Oilers would go on to win the game 5-2.

Formenton made his impact on the ice swiftly, using his speed multiple times to separate on multiple partial breakaways, creating scoring chances for the team. He was also on the top penalty-killing unit with Oilers captain Connor McDavid and defencemen Ryan Shea and Evan Bouchard, with the four outshooting the Jets 1-0.

His performance impressed head coach Mike Babcock.

“Pretty good, eh?” said Babcock. “I mean, what a difference-maker he’s going to be for us.

“Elite penalty killer, puts pressure on the other team. I thought him, Joe, and Docker [linemates Mathieu Joseph and Colton Dach] were unreal.”

There’s rust to Formenton’s game, as was to be expected. The winger has been out of the NHL since 2022 after being acquitted in the Hockey Canada Five trial that saw him, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote charged with sexual assault from a 2018 incident in London, Ont.

The Oilers saw something they liked in the player, and he looks poised to make the team out of training camp, potentially in a fourth-line role with Joseph and Dach.

Zach Laing is Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk

Daily Faceoff Edmonton wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name and place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by Sunday morning to be considered for that week’s edition.