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The Ottawa Senators are ramping up for their main camp ahead of the pre-season, which is set to begin in the coming days. With everyone back in hockey mode, the Senators held a press conference in preparation for the season, and among the topics mentioned was Alex Formenton.
Alex Formenton Expected To Be Traded By Ottawa Senators
One of the most pressing topics regarding this team was the status of RFA Alex Formenton. We received information regarding the status of the five World Junior players who were on trial this past year.
The players will be eligible to sign contracts in October and will be eligible to suit up in the NHL by December 1st. For the Senators, they have a unique situation because they hold Alex Formenton’s rights.
Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios was asked about where the club stands, and what the club’s plan is with RFA Alex Formenton.
Although Staios did not want to get into specifics, he did give us a concrete response regarding the Senators’ position.
Steve Staios says he’s spoken to Alex Formenton’s agent and both “sides agree it would be best for both sides for a fresh start.”
Now we know that the club does not plan to bring Alex Formenton back to Ottawa. Staios would elaborate further, stating that the Sens would monitor the trade market to see what is out there for Formenton’s signing rights.
Around the league, it would be hard to imagine that Alex Formenton has a significant amount of trade value.
Alex Formenton’s Last NHL Stint
Formenton last played in the NHL during the 2021-2022 season, where he had promising upside, scoring 18 goals and 32 points.
But the off-ice antics will most certainly deter many teams from taking a chance on Formenton. I would all but guarantee that Formenton, in any type of trade, will end up playing in an American market.
Potential Alex Formenton Trade Destination
Although the situation is very difficult to assess, my intuition tells me a team like the Vegas Golden Knights could be a good fit for Formenton.
Vegas has shown in years past that they are willing to make tough decisions in order to put the best possible roster on the ice.
Formenton would certainly help in a bottom-six role for a contending team. Assuming he can still use the skill he once showed in Ottawa, he could be a valuable piece, and for Ottawa, a valuable trade chip.
Addressing The Formenton Situation
Now one area to address with this situation is the contrasting fan opinions about what the team ought to do with Formenton.
Some fans will be pleased with this decision from Staios, while others will be questioning why the Senators did not just choose to re-sign Formenton.
I’m not here to say that either side is correct or incorrect. There are certainly considerations to be made in either type of move. But what I will say is that the Senators are going to be completely fine without Formenton on the roster.
The team already has a surplus of options on the wing. With Brady Tkachuk, David Perron, Claude Giroux, Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig, and Fabian Zetterlund, all top-nine winger positions will be filled.
Consider the fact that they also have Michael Amadio, and the role for a Formenton reunion was clustered before considering the off-ice aspect. If Ottawa were to add up front, it would have to be a top-six winger for it to make sense.
Regardless of where you stand on Formenton, I would assume most recognize he is not a better top-six option than at least four of the previously mentioned players.
Now we will have to wait and see if the Senators are able to find a trade partner for Formenton.
The last thing the team needs is a distraction heading into the season, and cutting ties with Formenton will at the very least ensure there are no distractions.
It has been a long, uncomfortable connection between the Senators and Alex Formenton for the past few seasons.
No matter where you stand on the NHL’s and courts’ decisions, it will be relieving to not have the constant inter-fan base debate regarding Formenton.
Main camp starts up shortly, so it’s time to turn the page onto another season of Senators hockey! Expect more content in the coming months as the Senators begin to ramp things up!
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