Stan Bowman Defends Oilers’ Decision to Sign Alex Formenton

The Edmonton Oilers knew there would be significant pushback when they signed Alex Formenton. One week later, general manager Stan Bowman is making it clear that the organization did not make the decision lightly and remains comfortable with bringing the 26-year-old forward back to the NHL.

Formenton signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with Edmonton on Sept. 9 after spending three of the previous four seasons with HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland. He was one of five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors team who were charged with sexual assault and later acquitted following a 2025 trial.

The signing has generated significant criticism. A fan-created petition calling on the Oilers to reverse the move has surpassed 65,000 signatures, while longtime Oilers superfan Mary Loewen, known as “Mama Stanley,” announced that she would no longer support the organization while Formenton remains on the roster.

Bowman addressed the controversy at length Wednesday ahead of training camp and acknowledged that Edmonton knew the move would divide its fanbase.

Bowman Says Oilers Expected Pushback

Bowman isn’t asking Oilers fans to agree with the decision. Instead, he stressed that management understood what it was getting into and spent considerable time examining the situation before offering Formenton a contract.

“I understand that people are going to view it differently, and that’s okay,” Bowman said. “We don’t all have to agree on everything here, and people are entitled to their opinions, and they have strong feelings on it, and I totally respect that.”

That’s an important distinction given the level of reaction surrounding the signing. The Oilers aren’t pretending the criticism doesn’t exist. Bowman said the organization knew Formenton’s addition was “a polarizing topic” and that the potential reaction contributed to the amount of work management put into its decision. Bowman also believes Formenton can contribute both on and off the ice.

“We do feel comfortable that Alex is a member of our team,” Bowman said. “We believe that he’s going to be an asset to our team on the ice, but also as a teammate.” Bowman added that he has had numerous conversations with Formenton and believes the forward has “grown a lot” during the years since he last played in the NHL. Whether fans ultimately come to the same conclusion remains another question.

Hockey Canada’s Decision Played Major Role

One of the biggest factors in Edmonton’s decision appears to have been Hockey Canada’s handling of Formenton’s eligibility. Formenton was immediately eligible for reinstatement by Hockey Canada in August, unlike the other four players involved in the case. Bowman said Edmonton spent considerable time trying to understand why Formenton’s situation was handled differently.

“We spent a lot of time finding out why there was a different treatment of Alex than there was of the other players,” Bowman said. “There were specific reasons why that was the case, which gave us the willingness to move forward with Alex relative to the other players.” Bowman had previously explained that Hockey Canada’s decision played a “big role” in Edmonton’s evaluation because the organization had access to information that wasn’t necessarily available publicly. That’s essentially where the Oilers are asking people to trust their process. Management conducted its own due diligence, spoke with Formenton and considered Hockey Canada’s decision before determining that it was comfortable offering him a contract.

That doesn’t mean fans are obligated to reach the same conclusion, something Bowman repeatedly acknowledged Wednesday.

Evan Bouchard Addresses Fan Reaction

The controversy isn’t going to remain solely a management issue — Oilers players will inevitably face questions about their new teammate as training camp gets underway. Evan Bouchard was among the first to address the situation Wednesday. Asked about the reaction from fans and a planned protest surrounding the signing, Bouchard said people have the right to make their feelings known.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion,” Bouchard said while discussing the reaction to Formenton’s addition. Bouchard also spoke about his relationship with Formenton as the Oilers begin integrating the winger into the dressing room. His comments reflect what could become the approach Edmonton’s players take throughout camp: acknowledge the public reaction while focusing on their responsibilities as teammates.

The questions likely aren’t going away anytime soon, particularly with the petition continuing to gain attention and a protest planned around Edmonton’s first preseason game.

Formenton Could Fill a Need for Oilers

Lost amid the controversy is why Edmonton targeted Formenton from a hockey perspective. Bowman revealed that Matt Savoie’s injury prompted management to explore adding another forward. Formenton’s speed, NHL experience, and penalty-killing ability eventually made him an option.

Before leaving the NHL, Formenton had developed into a useful two-way forward for the Ottawa Senators. He scored 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games during the 2021-22 season and logged 150:27 on the penalty kill, second among Senators forwards. He has 23 goals and 39 points through 109 career NHL games. He remained productive in Switzerland, recording 33 goals and 52 points in 88 games with Ambri-Piotta over three seasons.

There will naturally be questions about how quickly that production can translate after more than four years away from the NHL. Formenton is stepping back into a league that has changed since his final season in Ottawa, and he’ll need to earn his place in Edmonton’s lineup.

Oilers Want to Be Judged by What Happens Next

The larger issue for Edmonton is that this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Bowman acknowledged that some supporters may have “fatigue” with the Oilers giving opportunities to people who have previously been surrounded by controversy. He himself received a second opportunity when Edmonton hired him in 2024 following his reinstatement by the NHL, and the organization has made several other decisions over the years that generated public criticism.

Bowman’s message is that the Oilers want their actions moving forward to determine how they’re viewed. “You want to do right by the community, and you want to make people proud of you for the people that you are and the way that you operate moving forward,” Bowman said. “We’re trying to do the right thing and give us a chance to make them proud and be judged on what we do moving forward here.”

That’s ultimately where the organization stands. The Oilers knew the Formenton signing would be controversial, went ahead with it after conducting their own review, and aren’t backing away from the decision despite the backlash. At the same time, Bowman isn’t telling frustrated supporters that their concerns are invalid. “We’re not here to tell people how they’re supposed to feel,” he said. “We respect their opinions to have different viewpoints on it, and that’s okay.”

Formenton’s performance will eventually become part of the conversation once games begin, but the reaction to his signing goes well beyond hockey. Edmonton has made its decision. Now Formenton and the organization will have to live up to Bowman’s belief that, over time, their actions can earn the trust of a fanbase that remains deeply divided over the move.