The professional trajectory of hockey player Alex Formenton in North America has taken a definitive and disappointing turn. The latest updates from the National Hockey League confirm that the forward, once considered a future cornerstone for the Ottawa Senators, will not play a single game in the league for the entire 2025–26 season. This outcome is a direct result of contractual timing and stringent league regulations, effectively sidelining a previously established player.
The Official Ruling and a Closed Door
The NHL has made it official: Alex Formenton is ineligible to play during the ongoing 2025–26 campaign. This ruling came after the 25-year-old failed to sign a contract before the critical December 1 deadline for restricted free agents. While the Ottawa Senators technically still hold his NHL rights, league rules now explicitly prevent him from suiting up for any team this season.
There was a potential escape route that ultimately led nowhere. The Senators had the option to trade his rights to another NHL club before the deadline, which would have allowed that new team to sign him in time. However, no such trade materialised, firmly closing the door on any immediate NHL return for Formenton. This leaves him in the limbo of being an unsigned restricted free agent with no North American playing options for now.
Swiss Move Becomes Primary Path Amidst 2018 Team Fallout
Facing this NHL blockade, Formenton had already secured an alternative professional path. He has signed a contract to play in Switzerland for the season, a move that has now transitioned from a contingency plan to his primary hockey destination. His situation adds a significant layer to the complex and ongoing fallout surrounding several players connected to Canada's 2018 World Junior Championship team.
The contrast in outcomes for these players is stark and telling. While Formenton's route leads to Europe, other former teammates have found different landing spots. Goaltender Carter Hart managed to secure an NHL contract, and defenseman Cal Foote signed with a team in the American Hockey League. Meanwhile, players like Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod have opted for contracts in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This disparity underscores how NHL opportunities have severely narrowed for individuals linked to that 2018 team.
An Uncertain Future and a League-Wide Reminder
For Alex Formenton, the immediate future is set in Swiss arenas, but his long-term NHL prospects are shrouded in doubt. The earliest he could potentially stage a comeback to the world's top hockey league would be next season. However, that return is entirely contingent on an NHL organisation being willing to take a chance and sign him when he becomes eligible again—a scenario that is far from guaranteed.
As the NHL news cycle continues to track player movements and eligibility decisions, Formenton's case stands as a sobering reminder. It highlights that a return to the league is never automatic, even for young players who once showed immense promise. The combination of off-ice controversies, strict contractual deadlines, and league rules can create an almost insurmountable barrier. For now, the once-promising Senator's North American career is on indefinite hold, with his hockey journey continuing an ocean away.
