With Babcock and Formenton on board, the Oilers – with McDavid’s approval – are the NHL’s villains

OPINION With Babcock and Formenton on board, the Oilers – with McDavid’s approval – are the NHL’s villains CATHAL KELLY PUBLISHED 58 MINUTES AGO UPDATED 37 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: As the team's best player, Connor McDavid has the ability to squash a team move he may not like. That hasn't happened with the hiring of Mike Babcock or the signing of Alex Formenton, Cathal Kelly writes. SEAN M. HAFFEY/GETTY IMAGES SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. This week, the Edmonton Oilers signed Alex Formenton, one of five men acquitted in the Hockey Canada sex assault trial. Formenton is no star and never was. He’s spent last year playing in the Swiss league, which is one rung down from the NHL, if you pulled off all the other rungs between the top and bottom of the ladder. All to say that PR-wise, this is a choice. Selling it to Oilers fans requires a nod from the man who runs Edmonton. “Listen, I think he’s gone through a process,” Connor McDavid said at one of the league’s pre-season petting zoos. “He’s been transparent through the process, and that process has led him here today, and it’s a great opportunity for him.” There’s the nod. McDavid has put an arm of protection around Formenton. Anyone who wants to rustle up a morality mob is going to have to go through the captain. Since the captain has only two years left on his deal, no one in Edmonton – or Canadian hockey, full stop – is inclined to take him on. It’s one thing for Americans to leave. It will be quite another when Captain Canuck decides to move to Florida. By vouching for Formenton, as well as new head coach Mike Babcock, McDavid is doing more than fronting the crest. He’s taking his mid-career heel turn. Oilers lose support of superfan ‘Mama Stanley’ after Formenton signing You sort of get it. McDavid will turn 30 in a few months, and what’s he got to show for being a nice guy? Steady disappointment while running a club that can’t keep up with him, even when he holds its hand. If he hasn’t already, McDavid should check out Amadeus. Ten years ago, he was Mozart. Today, he’s in real danger of becoming Salieri. Every NHLer is a winner in the sense that they get paid a tech CEO’s wage to run around in pants that make a noise when the legs rub together, but even on that metric McDavid is now losing. Ducks jackpot winner Leo Carlsson has scored as many points in his career as McDavid…