The Edmonton Oilers do their public relations staff no favours once again after announcing on Wednesday Morning that the club has signed forward Alex Formenton.
The #Oilers have signed forward Alex Formenton to a one-year contract with an AAV of $850,000. pic.twitter.com/1DQ14z3Ndu
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 9, 2026
The Oilers and Formenton agreed to a one-year contract carrying an $850,000 annual average value (AAV).
The signing comes after recent speculation and reports that the Oilers were believed to have interest in the forward, with insiders and reporters such as Bob Stauffer and David Staples connecting the two parties.
Evander Kane, Covid, Alex Formenton and the Nurse trade.
— David Staples (@dstaples) September 5, 2026
Even hotter hockey talk than usual with @Bob_Stauffer https://t.co/BgeLn3xFbf
Formenton's career
No piece can be written about the Formenton signing without mentioning he had been ineligible to play in the NHL before being reinstated on December 1st, 2025. He is one of the five Hockey Canada players who were charged with, and subsequently acquitted of, sexual assault stemming from an incident that took place following the Gold Medal celebration for the 2018 World Junior Championships in London, Ontario. He spent three of the past four seasons playing in the National League in Switzerland with HC Ambri-Piotta where he played in 88 games, scoring 52 points (33 goals, 19 assists).
He previously spent multiple seasons with the Ottawa Senators organization, with both the NHL club and their American Hockey League affiliate the Belleville Senators. In his time with the Senators, Formenton played in 109 NHL games scoring 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 point and 76 AHL games scoring 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists).
Formenton is a low-risk signing
During his brief NHL playing career so far, Formenton has shown himself capable of being a bottom-six penalty killer who can provide secondary offence. He also has a uniquely seperating skill of his foot speed, ranking in the 99th percentile league wide in Max Skating Speed, according to NHL Edge tracking data for the 2021-22 season.
His skillset affords the Oilers coaching staff, lead by new head coach Mike Babcock, the opportunity to experiment with lines and move him up or down. He can play lower in the lineup and potentially find a spot on the fourth line or next to Jason Dickinson to help form a shutdown line. He could also be moved up to play alongside a player like captain Connor McDavid, having the footspeed to match the Oilers franchise cornerstone.
If it does not work however, his low cap hit gives the Oilers the flexibility to place him on waivers and send him down to the AHL without counting against their salary cap. Overall, from a hockey standpoint, the Formenton signing is a low-risk move that could pay off for the club on the ice.
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