The prospect of former Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton making a return to the National Hockey League this season appears increasingly unlikely as critical deadlines approach.
Trade Deadline Comes and Goes
With a 5 p.m. EST deadline on Monday for the restricted free agent to have his rights transferred to another team, league sources confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen that there is virtually no chance a trade will materialize. This development effectively blocks Formenton's path back to the NHL for the current season.
The Senators have spent months attempting to negotiate a trade for Formenton's rights following his involvement in the 2018 Canadian world junior team case. Formenton was among five players found not guilty of sexual assault last July in London, Ontario.
Swiss League Alternative
With limited interest from other NHL teams, Formenton will likely complete the season with HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss league, where he remains under contract until the Christmas break. The 26-year-old forward has recorded five goals and nine points in 20 games with the Swiss team this year.
Steve Staios, the Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, had collaborated with Formenton's agent, Darren Ferris of Quartex Management, during the summer. Both parties agreed that a change of scenery would serve as the optimal solution for the player's career progression.
Contract Complications and Future Implications
The Senators had sought a draft pick in return for Formenton's rights, but the limited market interest prevented any deal from materializing. Formenton, who was selected 47th overall in the 2017 NHL draft, has not appeared in the league since the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.
Throughout his NHL career, the winger participated in 109 regular-season games, accumulating 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points. He became a free agent in 2022 and did not re-sign with Ottawa.
While there has been discussion about the Senators renouncing Formenton's rights to make him an unrestricted free agent, this action would require special permission from NHL headquarters. Without such permission, Ottawa will maintain control of his rights until July 1, 2027.
Formenton represents the only player from the acquitted group with restricted free agent status, while his former teammates Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod, and Cam Foote all hold unrestricted free agent positions. Hart has since signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, while McLeod joined Avangard Omsk in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.
