Alex Formenton is returning to the NHL, signing with the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year deal worth $850,000, the team announced on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old forward from Barrie has not played in the league since 2022 with the Ottawa Senators. He'd spent three of the last four seasons with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League before his contract ended in December.
In Switzerland, Formenton played in 89 National League games, putting up 33 goals and 52 assists.
Ottawa had previously held his NHL rights before confirming in May it would not seek to keep them.
Formenton played in 109 games with the Senators between 2018-19 and 2021-22, scoring 23 goals and assisting on 16.
He was one of five former Canadian national U20 ice hockey team members who were accused and later acquitted of sexual assault in connection to a 2018 incident in London, Ont. through a high-profile trial last year.
Hockey Canada announced in August that Formenton would be the only one of the five accused to be immediately reinstated to the organization, meaning he'd be eligible to play for the Canadian national team.
At the end of the 2026-27 season, Edmonton will hold onto his rights as he will become a restricted free agent.
The Oilers are entering the season led by new head coach Mike Babcock after losing in the Western Conference quarterfinals last year. Their first regular season game is Sept. 29 against Vancouver.
