The hockey world has seen plenty of moves that have made the headlines in the past, but few have gone from penny stock to big time, with the Edmonton Oilers grabbing a former Ottawa Senators winger like Alex Formenton. The 26-year-old forward signed a one-year deal valued at $850,000, which was Edmonton’s typical approach with players of his age. After years away from the National Hockey League, Formenton is back on North American ice and is now a new part of his career.
The Journey Back to the Big League
Formenton honed his skill set in Switzerland in the last three seasons with HC Ambri-Piotta, and he’s eager to get back on the ice in North America. His NHL return comes after a long, highly publicized legal battle in the 2018 Hockey Canada case. After a full court hearing, Formenton was acquitted of the criminal charges and was officially reinstated along with all the other players who had been acquitted. He also cleared the final administrative obstacle for his return to Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities, after an independent appeal board determined he was eligible to do so.
What He Brings to the Oilers Roster
It’s just a tactical switch: Edmonton will get a fast, active forward, good bottom-six depth, and a proven penalty-killer from a strictly tactical point of view. In 2021-22, when he was at his best in Ottawa, he scored 18 goals and posted 32 points in 79 games, making himself a big asset on the short-handed penalty kill. Formenton comes into the season with a nice opportunity to get some depth minutes in a game given the Oilers’ lack of depth and injuries to starting lineups. It’s a relatively low-risk financial bet on raw speed and upside that may prove to be a huge payoff on the ice.
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