Trying to make sense of the Alex Formenton situation

The restricted free agent was the only 2018 Canadian World Jr. team player to not make a statement regarding an alleged gang rape after a Hockey Canada gala. And he won't play in the NHL this season

The asking price for Alex Formenton was reportedly a second-round pick, but uncertainty prevented the Senators from getting a deal done.

The deadline came and went Thursday for Alex Formenton to be signed by the Ottawa Senators or traded to another team and signed. And neither of those things happened, so we know that Formenton will not play in the NHL this season.

We also know that this was not even really a contract negotiation in the true sense of the word. Absent from these negotiations was the regular cage-rattling that comes from both sides. In fact, the silence surrounding this whole thing was deafening. There have been suggestions that the Senators did even engage in any meaningful talks with Formenton on a new contract. But the Senators are not saying and neither is Formenton’s camp.