Formenton ineligible for Sens this season after RFA deadline passes

Ottawa Senators restricted free agent Alex Formenton is ineligible to play in the NHL during the 2022-23 season after the two sides failed to reach an agreement by Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline.

Formenton's entry-level contract expired after the last campaign. He's free to sign overseas.

The Senators were permitted to trade Formenton, but a deal never materialized. Ottawa likely could have afforded to sign the winger to a new contract, as the club currently has nearly $4 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

Ottawa drafted Formenton 47th overall in 2017. He was a key contributor for the Senators last season, posting a career-high 18 goals - including a league-leading five shorthanded tallies - and 32 points.

The 23-year-old was a member of Canada's 2018 world junior team. He's one of the few players who hasn't commented on an investigation into allegations against eight Hockey Canada players, including some from the gold-medal winning squad, accused of taking part in a group sexual assault at a gala event in June 2018.

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in September that the investigation had no bearing on Formenton's contract status.

"I think we all want to have answers," said Dorion, according to The Canadian Press. "I'm the father of a kid that I pay Hockey Canada fees to, and I think we all want to have answers, but at the same time, I'm also the GM of an NHL team. We've been given the directive that until the NHL investigation is over, not to comment."