He has potential to be better.
Its silly that this statement isnt that wild or outlandish at all....Pinto has a really, really undefined celling as a player right now...
We've seen the hype come and go before with young players before. And its not like Pinto's debut is one for the record books or the best we've ever seen before. But it feels different for me with Pinto, personally. I see a fully engaged player thats thinking as hard as he's working at all times.
I see a supremely gifted athlete with the right mindset/work ethic (bless UND and their program), an elite skillset/tool bag, and the high IQ and intelligence to exploit and excel in the NHL. Hes cerebral yet aggressive in how he approaches the game. Oh and he and Norris both get off being defensive stalwarts and matchup beasts - like a couple of sick in the mind mad-lads.
Like the Senators scouts, I admire the US development program in a lot of ways tbh...Despite being "America", in the hockey realm/bizzaro world - Canada is the super power that has no equal. America cant ice three seperate teams in a best on best tourney that are able to medal at any given time like Canada could.
But the US is fighting the war as smartly as they can given the task at hand - aka beating a juggernaut thats icing a team full of all stars and future hall of famers - but conveniently bound by a 23 man roster limit (and unable to flex their full muscles).
And so the US builds an aggressive team that plays responsibly, hard, and as fundamentally sound as possible. The goals will come by committee, and by shutting down and counter punching when a mistake is made. They have no disillusions of beating Canada in an all out pitched battle melee/run and gun race to outscore them. They choose to dig in and get ready for a battle of attrition.
Now look a the Sens - and Im sure you can draw some parallels by now. Were never going to beat a team like the Leafs that have Matthews and Marner flanked by a 2nd line of Tavares and Nylander in an all out shootout. Were outgunned and always will be. So we need to fight smart. Pinto and Norris as 60pt two beasts are actually a perfect fit towards what the Sens are building towards.
Like it or not, if the Sens somehow win a cup and make our dream come true, it will be a damn gritty pathway that got us there to the ultimate goal. Those hoping for a Picasso are going to get a Pollack in reality.
So the conclusion here is that while Im sure there are no shortage of people that will continue to prefer Kaliev to Pinto, or Drysdale to Sanderson. Svechnikov to Tkachuk. But I do believe they are misguided, and that the Sens brass are onto something here, and this model they've chose is our best chance at bringing home the bacon someday.