Oilers Double Down on 'Second Chance' Strategy with Formenton Signing

The Edmonton Oilers have signed Alex Formenton to a one-year contract valued at $850,000, continuing a pattern of hiring personnel and players who have struggled elsewhere. The move has sparked significant backlash, including a protest scheduled for Saturday and a petition that has reached 60,000 signatures, according to Sportsnet.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman acknowledged that the signing would not be universally embraced. Bowman, who was hired by Edmonton following his involvement in the Kyle Beach scandal in Chicago, stated that the organization conducted due diligence to ensure the decision was correct. Last year, Formenton was among five players cleared of charges in a sexual assault trial.

Sportsnet reports that Edmonton is betting Formenton's on-ice performance will eventually erase the negative publicity, mirroring the trajectories of previous acquisitions such as Corey Perry, Evander Kane, and Zach Kassian. Bowman noted that while some may feel fatigue regarding the team's willingness to provide fresh starts, the organization believes Formenton will be an asset to the team as both a player and a teammate.

This hiring follows a series of other controversial additions to the organization, including Mike Babcock and Bowman himself. Regarding Babcock, Bowman told Sportsnet that the team has established clear expectations and will not tolerate the behaviors that led to the coach's previous issues.