Oilers Insider Floats Signing Controversial Former Prospect
Edmonton Journal columnist David Staples floated the idea of the Oilers pursuing winger Alex Formenton, arguing his market value has cratered enough to make him a bargain option for a cap-strapped team.
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer has raised the same idea on air, doing so for a second time in recent weeks during a conversation with former NHL GM and agent Brian Lawton.
His Market Has Disappeared
Formenton was charged in connection with a 2018 incident involving a group of Canadian world junior players, a case that went to trial last year in London, Ontario.
A judge acquitted all five players charged, including Formenton, finding the Crown had not proven its case. He's been legally cleared to resume his career since, but hasn't appeared in the NHL since the case became public, spending last season playing in Switzerland instead.
Edmonton Oilers could use former ex-Ottawa Senator, acquitted in sex assault casehttps://t.co/tz0QNzRVlr via @edmontonjournal
— David Staples (@dstaples) September 2, 2026
Stauffer pointed to Edmonton's history of taking chances on players carrying baggage elsewhere, name-checking Evander Kane and Corey Perry as previous bets that worked out for the organization.
"Big rangy guy that can skate," Stauffer said of Formenton's game. "That was a good, good penalty killer. I've got a couple friends that watched him play last year in Switzerland. Didn't think he was particularly great, but the reality is: free player."
Lawton didn't hesitate when asked if he'd take the chance. "I would not hesitate," he said. "I would want to make sure I did my due diligence and I was comfortable with it."
Backlash That's Come Fast
Fans reacted quickly and largely negatively to even the suggestion.
Some observers have also questioned the logic given the Oilers previously passed on Carter Hart, viewed as the strongest player among the acquitted group, when he was seeking a fresh NHL opportunity.
Still, there are no reports indicating that the Oilers have actually reached out to Formenton or his representatives, and this remains, for now, speculation from media figures rather than legit interest from the team.
Formenton, a 2017 second-round pick by Ottawa who posted 18 goals and 32 points in his final NHL season in 2021-22, would need to convince a team to look past years away from the league before any signing, hypothetical or otherwise, could actually happen.
