Connor McDavid draws heat after addressing controversial Alex Formenton signing

The Edmonton Oilers sent shockwaves through the hockey world on Wednesday by officially adding forward Alex Formenton to their roster on a one-year deal worth $850,000 earlier on Wednesday. But the biggest talking point wasn't the contract itself. It was how the team's captain chose to address it.

When reporters asked Connor McDavid about the Formenton signing, the Oilers star offered a carefully worded endorsement. At the Media Tour in Vegas, McDavid said when asked: "Listen, I think he's gone through a process. He's been transparent through the process, and that process has led him here today, and it's a great opportunity for him."

The comments were measured, diplomatic, and brief. They were also immediately polarizing online.

Formenton has been out of the NHL since April 2022, after allegations of sexual assault connected to the 2018 World Juniors scandal surfaced publicly. He was ultimately acquitted of those charges in court, clearing his legal path back to professional hockey.

Still, the acquittal did little to ease public sentiment. Most NHL organizations reportedly kept their distance from all players tied to the case, regardless of legal outcomes, largely due to the public relations fallout attached to the proceedings.

The Oilers, however, decided to move forward. Insider David Staples had floated the idea earlier this month, framing Formenton as a low-cost depth option for a cap-strapped contending team. A player with legitimate NHL talent whose market value had cratered represented, in that view, an opportunity too practical to ignore.

Formenton's path to Edmonton mirrors moves already made by other players connected to the same case. Carter Hart, also acquitted, signed with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Dillon Dube landed a one-year deal worth $850,000 with the St. Louis Blues heading into this campaign.

The 25-year-old forward was originally a second-round pick by Ottawa in 2017 and showed flashes of promise during his time with the Senators, posting 18 goals and 32 points across 79 games in his final NHL season.

I guess we will have to wait and see once training camp kicks off, where Formenton's performance on the ice and the locker room's ability to manage the scrutiny off it will be among the most closely watched storylines of Edmonton's preseason.