End of an Era in Ottawa
The Ottawa Senators have officially severed ties with 26-year-old winger Alex Formenton, confirming his status as an unrestricted free agent. According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the club filed the necessary paperwork with the NHL’s Central Registry on May 8, effectively removing him from their list of restricted rights.
This decision marks the formal conclusion of a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding Formenton, who has not played in the NHL since the 2021-22 season. Following his departure from the North American professional circuit, Formenton has competed for HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss National League, recording 13 goals and 23 points in 42 games during the most recent campaign.
Legal Background and Career Stakes
Formenton’s NHL hiatus followed his involvement in a high-profile legal case concerning the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team. Alongside four other players, Formenton was charged with sexual assault. In July 2025, all five individuals were found not guilty, with the presiding judge explicitly noting that the complainant’s evidence was not “credible or reliable.”
Despite the acquittal, Formenton’s path back to the NHL has been obstructed by the stigma surrounding the case and the logistical challenge of his status as a restricted free agent. While the Senators initially sought to trade his rights—aiming for a draft pick in exchange—interest from other clubs remained minimal throughout the previous season.
Analysis: The Road Ahead
The transition to unrestricted free agency is a double-edged sword for Formenton. On one hand, he is no longer tethered to the Senators’ specific demands or potential trade roadblocks; he can now negotiate directly with any of the 32 NHL franchises. On the other hand, the four-year absence from the highest level of professional hockey presents a significant hurdle for his professional trajectory.
NHL front offices are notoriously risk-averse regarding players who have been inactive in the league for extended periods. While Formenton’s speed and size—the attributes that made him a 47th overall draft pick in 2017—remain valuable assets, his ability to integrate into a modern NHL roster remains speculative. His peers from the same case, such as Carter Hart, have faced varying levels of difficulty in re-establishing their careers. Formenton must now prove that his performance in the Swiss league translates to the pace and physicality of the NHL, a task that will require an organization willing to look past the controversy of the last three years.