Insider reveals two other suitors pushed to sign Alex Formenton before Edmonton Oilers locked him up

Alex Formenton is already a pressure point for Mike Babcock, but Edmonton wasn't the only NHL club willing to bring the forward in.

The Oilers have taken heavy public backlash since signing Formenton, who was previously involved in a controversy before returning to the NHL picture.

That reaction has now moved well beyond social media. More than 60,000 people have signed a petition calling on Edmonton to remove Formenton from the team.

But another detail changes the scope of the story. Darren Dreger reported that the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights also had interest in Formenton before he joined the Oilers.

That means Edmonton wasn't operating alone in evaluating whether Formenton was worth bringing into an NHL locker room despite the public reaction attached to his name.

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Carolina and Vegas both had opportunities to weigh the same questions Edmonton faced. Their reported interest shows Formenton's market stretched beyond one organization.

Alex Formenton interest extended beyond Edmonton

For the Oilers, that doesn't make the backlash disappear. The petition has already created an immediate off-ice storyline before Formenton's role under Babcock can even become the main discussion.

What it does reveal is that multiple clubs were prepared to consider the controversial forward. Edmonton simply became the team that moved from interest to an actual signing.

The Hurricanes being linked is notable because Carolina has spent years operating with a defined identity and clear expectations around its roster. Formenton still reached their radar.

Vegas is another striking name. The Golden Knights have rarely been shy about pursuing players they believe can improve their roster, and Formenton reportedly drew their attention as well.

That puts the Oilers' decision in a wider NHL context. Edmonton is taking the public heat now, but at least two other teams reportedly considered making a similar move.

Formenton will still have to earn whatever deployment Babcock gives him. Every lineup decision involving him will carry extra attention while the petition continues circulating.

And if the noise follows Edmonton into the season, the bigger question won't only be why the Oilers signed him. It will be how close Carolina or Vegas came to doing the same thing.

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