Ex-Senators forward Alex Formenton files $20.5M suit against former agent

Former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton has recently filed a lawsuit against his former representatives, agent Wade Arnott and player agency Newport Sports Management Inc. The lawsuit, totaling $20.5 million, alleges negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Formenton, who is currently one of five former NHL players facing charges of sexual assault in a high-profile case in London, Ont., claims in the suit filed in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto that he suffered financial losses due to Arnott and Newport’s alleged misconduct. Specifically, Formenton asserts that he lost income from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NHL seasons, as well as future income, as a result of their actions. He is seeking $20 million in damages and an additional $500,000 in punitive damages.

While the allegations have not yet been tested in court, neither Don Meehan, the founder of Newport Sports, nor Arnott has responded to requests for comment from The Canadian Press.

Formenton, along with Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, and Cal Foote, all former members of Canada’s world junior team, were charged earlier this year in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place in London in 2018. Despite the charges, all five players have chosen to defend themselves and have opted for a jury trial.

Newport Sports, based in Toronto and known as “the premier representation and management agency of professional hockey athletes,” represents a number of high-profile clients, including Connor Bedard, Erik Karlsson, and Steven Stamkos, among others.

As a second-round pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2017, Formenton’s lawsuit argues that Arnott and Newport Sports failed to fulfill their duty of care towards him as his agents. The suit alleges that they were negligent in their representation and did not meet the standard of care expected from professional agents.

The lawsuit also claims that Formenton was presented with a one-year, $787,500 US qualifying offer by the Senators in July 2022, which he rejected after his entry-level contract expired. Despite seeking advice from Arnott on how to proceed, the suit alleges that Arnott failed to inform Formenton that accepting the offer could lead to negotiating a new contract in January 2023.

Subsequently, Formenton signed a contract with Swiss professional club Ambri-Piotta for $125,000. During these negotiations, the lawsuit alleges that Arnott failed to advise Formenton on the potential consequences of playing for a European team and its impact on his NHL career.

Formenton took a leave of absence from Ambri-Piotta in January 2024 and severed ties with Arnott and Newport Sports. It was during this same month that he, along with Dube, Hart, McLeod, and Foote, was charged in the London sexual assault case.

The lawsuit paints a picture of alleged mishandling and negligence on the part of Arnott and Newport Sports, leading to financial losses and career setbacks for Formenton. As the legal proceedings unfold, the true extent of the damages and responsibilities will be determined.