Shane Pinto’s future with the Ottawa Senators remains up in the air, with no long-term deal in sight despite his earlier interest in staying with the team.
Senators GM Steve Staios recently told The Hockey News they’re putting contract talks on hold. "We’re gonna let the season start and not have Shane distracted," he explained. But he did mention they’ve had some "positive" early conversations.
That’s both good news and a bit concerning for Sens fans.
The 23-year-old center had a pretty impressive comeback last season. After missing half of 2023-24 due to a gambling policy violation, he bounced back with 21 goals and 37 points in 70 games. He averaged over 17 minutes of ice time per game and showed he can put the puck in the net, scoring on 16.5% of his shots.
But there’s more to Pinto’s game than just scoring.
He’s actually turned into one of Ottawa’s better defensive forwards. Among the team’s forwards, he ranked fifth in save percentage during even-strength play – pretty solid for a guy known mainly for his offense.
This summer, Pinto really turned heads at the World Championships. Playing for Team USA, he racked up 10 points in just eight games, including two goals. That performance earned him an invite to Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp, though he’s a long shot to make the final roster.
The Senators don’t need to rush into anything. Pinto will be a restricted free agent next summer, and he’s still three years away from unrestricted free agency. The team will have about $19 million coming off the books next year, including Pinto’s current $3.75M deal.
But here’s the thing: waiting could end up costing them more.
If Pinto has another strong season, his price tag will only go up. With several young stars already getting big contracts, Ottawa’s cap situation is getting tighter by the day.
The smart play might be to lock him up now, before his value potentially skyrockets.
