NHL insider's take on Shane Pinto's future could impact Leafs-Sens battles ahead

"The Ottawa Senators aren't playing around when it comes to Shane Pinto, as NHL insider Elliottee Friedman reported the Sens offered Pinto an "eight-year contract extension." However, on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman gave an update, saying, "I had one executive from another team, who bet me this was still gonna be a short-term deal. And the reason he thinks it's gonna be a short-term deal, as I mentioned, is that even though Pinto's contract is up this year, he still has two more seasons until he's an unrestricted free agent. There's a lot that could happen between now, and even two years from now, about where the cap is, and where it's going." That makes a lot of sense, even if the Senators would ideally want to get an eight-year deal for Pinto."

"Getting this deal done now could lead to a more cost-effective cap hit, and that would help the Senators continue to retain more young talent and even bring in more with the rising cap. Plus, it would keep Pinto from hitting the market in 2028. As an unrestricted free agent, Pinto can entertain offers from teams other than the Senators, and that could end with him signing a more lucrative deal elsewhere."

"A short-term deal would be even more cost-effective early on, and there are far fewer logistics at play when aiming for a two-year agreement. Signing Pinto for two seasons, perhaps at a reduced cost compared to what a long-term deal would bring, means that they would still have the star forward for another two years before he hits the free agent market. That would give the Sens time to build a team capable of making a deep playoff run."

The Ottawa Senators offered Shane Pinto an eight-year contract extension while other teams expect a shorter bridge deal. A team executive predicted a short-term agreement because Pinto's current contract expires this year but he remains under team control for two more seasons before reaching unrestricted free agency in 2028. Salary-cap uncertainty over the next two years makes a short-term deal attractive. A shorter contract would reduce early cap hits, help retain and acquire young talent under a rising cap, prevent Pinto from hitting free agency, and provide time to build a roster capable of deeper playoff runs.

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