Controversial forward Alex Formenton emerges as a potential late offseason target for one Canadian team

Rumblings are starting to pick up that the front office has at least kicked the tires on unrestricted free agent Alex Formenton.

With training camp right around the corner, chatter surrounding the roster isn't slowing down.

Some media outlets in and around Edmonton have floated Formenton's name as a real option to inject some serious wheels and penalty-killing juice into the lineup.

The upside is clear; we're talking about a guy who put up 18 goals in Ottawa while terrorizing opposing power plays with his speed.

Since Ottawa let his rights expire, the 26-year-old is a complete UFA.

That means anyone can bring him in without giving up a single asset or draft pick.

For a team tight against the salary cap, adding a fast, physical winger on a shoestring budget is always going to be tempting.

A guaranteed contract is still a long shot right now.

That said, bringing him in on a league-minimum deal, or even just a professional tryout (PTO), gives the staff a risk-free look at where his game is at.

After spending time playing over in Switzerland, the biggest question is how fast he can adapt back to the sheer pace of the NHL game.

Edmonton is constantly looking for cheap ways to upgrade their depth before opening night, so it's definitely a situation worth keeping an eye on to see if there's actual substance here.

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