EDMONTON — Alex Formenton scored in Edmonton’s 5-2 preseason-opening win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, hours after protesters outside Rogers Place renewed calls for the Oilers to reverse his signing.
Protest outside, endorsement inside
About 100 protesters gathered before the game, chanting and carrying signs that included “Believe Survivors.” Oilers superfan Mary Loewen, known as “Mama Stanley,” has a petition opposing the signing that was approaching 70,000 signatures.
Formenton is one of five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team who were acquitted in 2025 of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in London, Ont. He had not played in the NHL since 2022 before signing a one-year, US$850,000 contract with Edmonton on Sept. 9.
The reception inside the arena was different. There were no audible boos when Formenton scored on a breakaway in the second period, and he took shifts on Edmonton’s top penalty-killing unit.
Head coach Mike Babcock opened his postgame assessment with “Pretty good, eh?” before offering an emphatic endorsement.
“What a difference-maker he’s going to be for us. Elite penalty killer, puts pressure on the other team.”
Babcock also praised Formenton’s line with Mathieu Joseph and Colton Dach, calling it his favourite of the night. On an evening when the signing drew a protest outside the building, the remarks amounted to a clear public endorsement from the coach.
McDavid and Draisaitl get a long look
Connor McDavid played 19:13 and Leon Draisaitl 19:11, first and second among Edmonton forwards, with Vasily Podkolzin on their right. Both stars finished plus-four with a goal and an assist.
Babcock had committed to starting camp with McDavid and Draisaitl together. Giving each nearly 20 minutes in an exhibition against a young Jets lineup showed the coach was banking repetitions on that decision rather than holding an audition.
Bouchard and Shea drive the scoring
Parker Ford opened the scoring for Winnipeg at 1:58 of the first period. Ryan Shea tied the game at 6:52 in his Oilers debut, and McDavid put Edmonton ahead at 9:31 when his shot went in off a Jets skater.
Draisaitl made it 3-1 at 12:08 of the second before Formenton scored on a breakaway at 13:51. Jacob Julien pulled Winnipeg within two at 15:53 of the third, and Dach added an empty-net goal at 18:55.
Evan Bouchard led all skaters with four assists. Shea added two assists to his goal, giving Edmonton’s new top defence pair seven points in its first game together.
Tristan Jarry stopped 15 of 16 shots in nearly two periods in his Oilers debut. Matt Tomkins made four saves after taking over, while Thomas Milic finished with 23 for Winnipeg.
Babcock protects Isaac Howard after a difficult night
Babcock was less enthusiastic about Isaac Howard’s performance but discouraged a quick verdict on the 22-year-old forward.
“I think Howard’s had a real good camp. I didn’t like him as much tonight, but what I would say with him is, let’s not judge him.”
Babcock said Howard knew he had not played his best and would be better. It was a coach grading down a bubble forward while protecting his confidence in the same answer.
Matthew Savoie’s injury has opened a possible path to a top-six role. Howard began camp on the second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, then played Saturday on the third line with Max Jones and Josh Samanski.
What’s next
Edmonton plays at Winnipeg on Tuesday, visits Vancouver on Thursday and closes the preseason at home against Calgary on Saturday.
The Oilers have only four exhibition games after the NHL expanded the regular season to 84 games. With the top line already taking shape, Babcock has three remaining games to make the middle-six and bottom-pair decisions.
