Alex Formenton heads to Europe after refusing to sign with Ottawa

After refusing to sign with the Ottawa Senators as a restricted free agent, Alex Formenton is headed to Europe. HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League has announced the signing of the 23-year-old until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Formenton is a former 2nd round draft pick (47th overall) of the Ottawa Senators in 2017. He had a career season last year, posting 18 goals and 32 points in 59 games. Formenton received a qualifying offer from the Senators over the summer, but refused to sign it. The two parties had until the deadline of 5 PM ET on December 1 to reach a new deal, but didn't. Because of that, Formenton is not eligible to play in the NHL this season.

No specific reason has been given as to why Formenton chose Europe over the NHL for 2022-23. He was a member of the 2018 gold medal-winning World Junior Championship team from Canada that is currently embroiled in a scandal over an alleged sexual assault.

"With all due respect, I think they're totally two different things," said Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion on December 1 when asked if Formenton's presence on the team in 2018 was impacting his willingness to sign a new deal. "One's a contract issue and the other is a Hockey Canada issue that I can't comment on until the NHL investigation is over."

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