Story perspectives

Oilers Sign Alex Formenton After Acquittal Amid Backlash

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 5:37 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Formenton Signed

The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Alex Formenton to a one-year US$850,000 contract after his acquittal.
The NHL reinstated Formenton and four other players cleared of sexual assault charges in July 2025.
Superfan Mary Loewen announced she will stop supporting the Oilers and launched a petition to terminate Formenton’s contract.
Fans posted negative comments, calling the signing embarrassing and disgustful, after the Oilers’ playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Summary

Bowman Adds Formenton

GM Stan Bowman said injuries to key forwards forced the Oilers to seek penalty-kill depth.
He said Savoie and Janmark were expected to miss games, creating a roster hole.
Bowman added no affordable free-agent penalty killers were available, so Formenton was the cheapest option.
Training camp opens on Sept. 15, when Formenton will compete for a penalty-kill roster spot.

History

Historical Context

In July 2005, after the 2004-05 lockout that erased an entire NHL season, Commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHLPA approved a hard salary cap of US$39 million per team, limiting any player’s salary to $7.8 million. The cap forced small-market clubs such as the Edmonton Oilers to rely on low-cost contracts—e.g., Alex Formenton’s $850,000 deal—when rebuilding rosters despite fan criticism.

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Formenton Signed

The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Alex Formenton to a one-year US$850,000 contract after his acquittal.
The NHL reinstated Formenton and four other players cleared of sexual assault charges in July 2025.
Superfan Mary Loewen announced she will stop supporting the Oilers and launched a petition to terminate Formenton’s contract.
Fans posted negative comments, calling the signing embarrassing and disgustful, after the Oilers’ playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

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