Senators Secure Key Centre with Major Contract Extension
The Ottawa Senators have made a significant commitment to their future by signing centre Shane Pinto to a substantial contract extension. The deal, finalized on Thursday morning, ensures the promising young player remains with the Canadian franchise for the foreseeable future.
The four-year contract is valued at $30 million, carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million per season. This represents a substantial raise for the 24-year-old forward, who was earning $3.75 million in the final year of his previous extension signed in July 2024.
Building a Strong Foundation for the Future
This signing represents a crucial piece of team-building for the Senators franchise. With Pinto now secured, Ottawa has its top three centres - Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto - all under contract until the end of the 2029-30 NHL season. This stability down the middle provides the team with a solid foundation to build upon for years to come.
Pinto's strong performance this season certainly influenced the Senators' decision to invest heavily in his future. The centre had registered eight goals and 14 points in just 16 games at the time of signing, demonstrating his value to the team's offensive production.
Contract Negotiations and Team Strategy
Steve Staios, the Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, had publicly expressed his desire to secure Pinto to a long-term deal. Although Staios typically keeps negotiation details private, league sources revealed that the team had previously offered an eight-year, $52-million contract in mid-October, which would have carried a $6.5 million average annual value.
This offer represented significant progress from the team's summer proposal of an eight-year deal at $5 million AAV. The negotiations with Pinto's New York-based agent, Lewis Gross, had been temporarily shelved before training camp in September after making little progress during the summer months.
As a restricted free agent set to gain arbitration rights on July 1, Pinto's bargaining position strengthened with his impressive early-season performance. The new contract ensures the Senators retain a key piece of their core while providing the young centre with financial security and stability in Ottawa.
