How good can Shane Pinto be?

[GoodinOsgoode]

It's good to see this mentioned. Pinto played more time in the playoffs than any forward other than Tim Stutzle. Stutzle only played 9 seconds more than Pinto.

Pinto had a very important role. He was matched up against Matthews.

Yeah, I just noticed this as well, with regards to Time on Ice in the playoffs.
Pinto was #2, very close to being #1 and nearly 2 minutes more on average than #3 Tkachuk:

I do think Pinto could easily be our #2 C, if they were to swing Cozens out to the wing.
Greig, in my opinion, could be a solid #3C.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Yup. Interestingly though it seems Pinto himself was getting caught up in it, which isn’t totally surprising. I think he wants to play more of an offensive role but I don’t see him getting away from defensive assignments anytime soon given he’s best suited for it.

His role was lesser at the start of the season. Both Pinto and Greig saw their roles expand as the season progressed. So I could see how he might have felt he was being underused.

I also could see how a player with offensive upside wouldn't want to get pigeon holed as a matchup center at the expense of not being put in a position to score. He is getting ready to negotiate what might be the biggest contract of his career, so PP time and softer ES minutes means he is in a better position to get paid.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Yup. Interestingly though it seems Pinto himself was getting caught up in it, which isn’t totally surprising. I think he wants to play more of an offensive role but I don’t see him getting away from defensive assignments anytime soon given he’s best suited for it.

Pinto also mentioned on CIH that Matthews told him he’s a heck of a player after the series so that’s nice to hear too.

Seems that points lead to dollars... Look at Zetterlund .. scores a bunch of points for a bottom feeder and they are projecting close to 4m x 3 for him.
Anyway... I'm with Pinto getting PP2 time . He should be there imo; Let Green throw Cozens out after the PP ends . Maybe the PP will end with a faceoff at center a few more times

 

[BigRig4]

Green talked about him on CIH today. Mentioned that Alfie wanted him on the PP but he kept him off because after a PP other teams send their first line out and he wants Pinto out there. Said Pinto grew to understand it over the year and also mentioned people get too caught up in second/third line, they all play a lot of minutes.

That’s interesting cause it’s exactly what Yorkie speculated a few weeks back… guess he was spot on.

 

[JungleBeat]

I’d be happy if he turns out to be like Jarrett Stoll.

 

[Big Muddy]

Pinto is under contract this year and won’t need a new contract until the 2026-27 season begins. There’s still some time to get a new contract done and we have more cap room going into 2026-27.

 

[Big Muddy]

His role was lesser at the start of the season. Both Pinto and Greig saw their roles expand as the season progressed. So I could see how he might have felt he was being underused.

I also could see how a player with offensive upside wouldn't want to get pigeon holed as a matchup center at the expense of not being put in a position to score. He is getting ready to negotiate what might be the biggest contract of his career, so PP time and softer ES minutes means he is in a better position to get paid.

Maybe the Senators get a good, strong defensive 4C and use the improved 4th line in a shut down role?

 

[GCK]

Let’s get Pinto signed to a 6 x 6.5M deal this summer.

 

[aragorn]

I think Pinto has 2nd line centre potential as his floor. He is already a complete 200' player & just needs to continue to improve his offence, He is good defensively, great on the PK with Greig, has a great shot on the PP & is getting better at faceoffs. He hits, he has good size, is becoming a good shut down centre & if he increases his scoring will be a valuable player.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Anthony Cirelli and that’s a good thing.

 

[bicboi64]

He's primed to break out for a 50-60 point season this year. Hoping he signs a team friendly deal before that

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Let’s get Pinto signed to a 6 x 6.5M deal this summer.

I don't think that is high enough.

He will have a 5M QO with 2 arb-RFA years remaining. 113.5+M cap in his UFA year.

His agent is also notoriously difficult to get a good deal out of.

6 x 6.5M would be a home run, but my guess is that 6.5M is closer to the ask on a 2 year extension that takes him directly to free agency, not on a 6 year deal that buys up 4 UFA years under a wildly high cap.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Outside of us signing Pinto to a contract with a cap hit of $10mill and giving albatross contracts to our entire 4th line, we have plenty of cap space to sign him in the next offseason, where our long term contracts will truly shine. Detroit, Montreal, and Buffalo will all have more cap space problems by then. This offseason we'll have a tighter cap than them, though.

 

[BigRig4]

I don't think that is high enough.

He will have a 5M QO with 2 arb-RFA years remaining. 113.5+M cap in his UFA year.

His agent is also notoriously difficult to get a good deal out of.

6 x 6.5M would be a home run, but my guess is that 6.5M is closer to the ask on a 2 year extension that takes him directly to free agency, not on a 6 year deal that buys up 4 UFA years under a wildly high cap.

Is he offer sheet eligible next summer too?

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Is he offer sheet eligible next summer too?

Yes.

He only wasn't OS eligible coming off of his ELC because he was 10.2(c). He signed a 1 year deal after the gambling thing and accrued the necessary pro experience to qualify for an OS.

 

[CanadianHockey]

I think the Phillip Danault comparison remains apt. He'll be a 50-60 point guy offensively who can match-up well against top lines. Ideal 3C for a powerhouse team but works as a 2C on a dark horse.

 

[GCK]

I don't think that is high enough.

He will have a 5M QO with 2 arb-RFA years remaining. 113.5+M cap in his UFA year.

His agent is also notoriously difficult to get a good deal out of.

6 x 6.5M would be a home run, but my guess is that 6.5M is closer to the ask on a 2 year extension that takes him directly to free agency, not on a 6 year deal that buys up 4 UFA years under a wildly high cap.

You put 40M in front of him with signing bonuses each year to lower the tax rate and offer it a year before he’s RFA, he may take it. If not wait until next summer and pay market value.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

You put 40M in front of him with signing bonuses each year to lower the tax rate and offer it a year before he’s RFA, he may take it. If not wait until next summer and pay market value.

His next contract only has 2 RFA years and the cap is set to explode.

I think waiting until next summer is risky because his agent has already allegedly tried to drum up interest with offer sheets last time around, and we are hearing that they might be used more often going forward.

Based on the strategies used by his agent for the last two negotiations, how strong of a bridge deal he got, and the rising cap, I doubt he signs early for anything other than a great deal.

His agent is known for pushing very hard. Swayman, Nylander, etc.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

His next contract only has 2 RFA years and the cap is set to explode.

I think waiting until next summer is risky because his agent has already allegedly tried to drum up interest with offer sheets last time around, and we are hearing that they might be used more often going forward.

Based on the strategies used by his agent for the last two negotiations, how strong of a bridge deal he got, and the rising cap, I doubt he signs early for anything other than a great deal.

His agent is known for pushing very hard. Swayman, Nylander, etc.

In summer 2022 Cirelli signed an 8 year 6.25m contract beginning 2023-24 (17m signing bonus) and a tax friendly state

The monetary situation has improved and Cirelli has graduated to the 2C in Tampa

I am not certain on the quality of the comparable.. I think Cirelli would be seen as having more value now and his 3year bridge was a healthy 4.8m in a tight cap.

If Pinto is a 3C here long term I think 8m is a bit much and it would be hard to justify.

Last Summer Byfield signed a 5 year 31.25m contract (6.25AAV) 3RFA years 2 UFA years

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

In summer 2022 Cirelli signed an 8 year 6.25m contract beginning 2023-24 (17m signing bonus) and a tax friendly state

The monetary situation has improved and Cirelli has graduated to the 2C in Tampa

I am not certain on the quality of the comparable.. I think Cirelli would be seen as having more value now and his 3year bridge was a healthy 4.8m in a tight cap.

If Pinto is a 3C here long term I think 8m is a bit much and it would be hard to justify.

Last Summer Byfield signed a 5 year 31.25m contract (6.25AAV) 3RFA years 2 UFA years

I would do 8x8, but I also agree that it's not ideal. It's Pinto winning the negotiation. I think ultimately, he is going to get 8x8 in 3 years in unrestricted free agency if he doesn't get it from us or whoever owns his rights.

The problem with comparisons like Byfield, as you point out, they are mostly RFA contracts. The UFA years are the big deal. One note would be that Byfield has 1 UFA year, not 2.

Nothing will leak about any contract talks. His agent doesn't really do that. But his agent is the type of guy who if he and the player both believe the player is worth something, he will push for it with whatever leverage they have. That's why Pinto's name being brought up by Garrioch was curious to me, and it makes me wonder if they want him to get paid like the top 6 offensive C that they think he is, not like the matchup 3C that the Senators seem to be using him as.