The Senators have agreed to terms with RFA center Shane Pinto on a one-year deal worth $775K, the NHL league minimum salary, per a team release.
Pinto, 23, is eligible to make his season debut in Sunday’s game against the Flyers. He will miss tomorrow’s game against the Jets as he serves the final contest of his 41-game suspension for violating the league’s sports wagering rules. His contract cannot be registered with the league until Sunday.
Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch said earlier this week that the team had offered multiple contract options to Pinto as he neared his return, including multiple longer-term deals. While the Senators’ tight salary cap situation prevents them from giving Pinto a significant salary this season, they continue to work on signing a multi-year deal before Pinto reaches RFA status next summer, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. He is eligible to sign an extension at any time before July 1.
Unfortunately for the Senators, their 16-24-0 record puts them in last place in the Eastern Conference at the time of Pinto re-joining the team. Any impact the sophomore center has in his return will likely be immaterial to their end-of-season fortunes, but his play will still be closely eyed as the Senators determine who to keep and who to shed as their rebuild remains stuck in first gear.
The 2019 second-round pick churned out play worthy of a high-end third-line center last year, his first full campaign with the Sens after a shoulder injury limited him to five games in 2021-22. Posting 20-15–35 in all 82 games, Pinto ranked sixth on last year’s team in goals and, despite his -21 rating, graded well in terms of two-way play with a 51.9% Corsi share at even strength.
He still carries top-six potential despite his significant time away from the game over the last two seasons. He’ll at least find himself in a top-nine role when he suits up on Wednesday, especially as Josh Norris remains sidelined down the middle with an upper-body injury. Whether or not he usurps another promising youngster, 21-year-old Ridly Greig, for first-line duties between Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux is unclear.
Pinto will earn $387.5K in actual salary this season as a result of his contract being signed with exactly half of Ottawa’s schedule remaining. If he can’t agree to a new deal with Ottawa by the summer, he will not be eligible for salary arbitration. However, unlike last summer, he will be eligible for an offer sheet.
It’s good the NHL doesn’t condone sports gambling
I don’t like it either & there are likely many more athletes that will get caught up in it across US sports. When I see former players I respected like the mannings & brees promoting the sites I shake my head.
I wonder how long it will be before they sell the rights for the Official Casino and Sportsbook of the NHL
Maybe Bettman can give us his locks of the night lol
McDavid & Gretzky. It’s cringeworthy and embarrassing!!!!!!
Discounted Pinto Beans.
If Pinto puts up 15 goals and 25 pts in his shorted season I still think he might be worth a decent shot for a team to sign..even a 2 year deal at 2.5 per year
that’s getting matched easily by the sens. for any offer sheet for Pinto to have a chance to go through, the starting annual number will be at least a 3.
An embarrassing start to Pinto’s career! Awkward!
Kind of mirrors your posting career here.
Almost as embarrassing as your unfunny “discounted pinto beans” post.
That wasn’t me, That was an entertaining imposter, copying me though is the ultimate compliment whoever he or she is!
You are welcome!
Career? No! Just expressing my opinions like everyone else.