The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Alex Formenton to a one-year contract worth $850,000, the NHL team announced Wednesday.
Formenton was one of five players from Canada’s 2018 junior national team who were acquitted last year of sexual assault charges stemming from an encounter with a woman known as “EM” after the Hockey Canada Gala that year in London, Ont.
A year ago, the NHL reinstated all five players, clearing them to play on Dec. 1, 2025.
Carter Hart signed with Vegas and helped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final last spring before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. Forward Dillon Dube signed with the St. Louis Blues in July.
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An independent appeals panel ruled last month that the players had violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, but Formenton was the only one eligible for immediate reinstatement after being suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.
The Board recommended continued suspensions for Hart, Dube, Cal Foote and Michael McLeod.
McLeod will not be eligible for reinstatement until November 10, 2030. Foote will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 10, while Hart and Dube will be eligible for reinstatement on that date in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Formenton, a 26-year-old native of Barrie, Ontario, was selected by Ottawa in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He scored 23 goals and 16 assists in 109 games for the Senators.
Formenton spent three of the last four seasons playing in Switzerland (for HC Ambri-Piotta) and the other not playing hockey at all.
Meanwhile, McLeod has a contract in the KHL.
Foote played last season for the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves and recently had his one-year contract with Farjestad BK terminated when the Swedish club came under fire for the signing.
With files from The Associated Press.
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