Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours, but since it is for the Sens, we can have a little fun, eh? The Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios stopped in with the boys at Coming In Hot Podcast to have a little chat. No Staios wasn’t rocking any fancy sunglasses, but he did have lots to talk about on the pod. For now, we would focus in on an update he provided regarding a possible contract extension.
NHL Rumours and the Ottawa Senators Extension Talks on Young Centre
Rumour: We still haven’t spilled the beans, but in case you couldn’t tell, this rumour is on Sens centre Shane Pinto . Since it was coming right from the GM himself, it might not exactly be a traditional rumour. However, he said they have had preliminary, positive conversations. He indicated everything seems to be on track and that they would let the season start to hopefully avoid distraction.
Analysis: It appears the Staios doesn’t want to do either of two things. First of all, he doesn’t want to ignore Pinto, and make him feel unwanted in any way, shape, or form. Also, he doesn’t want to push, as he knows Pinto has a lot on his plate. In addition, we all know this is big season upcoming for Pinto career-wise, and they don’t want any additional distractions, like contract talk, get in the way.
One way to summarize Staios’ discussion was a quote he had.
“…deal to be at the right time.” Meaning that when the time is right, the term and amount will be right, the stars will align, and the deal will get done. As part of our NHL Rumours, Staios emphasized that he wants Pinto to feel like a part of the core group. With Pinto’s inclusion on the Team USA World Championship team, he started his summer off busy. Now, being invited to the Team USA Olympic Orientation camp, Pinto doesn’t need any additional distractions. Staios just wants to allow Pinto to focus on his game and help him maximize the benefit of these opportunities.
Talking About Pinto the Player
Staios was very complimentary of Pinto’s game. He suggested that he, like many of the Sens players, are intelligent hockey players. Also, he mentioned that Pinto is a responsible player. Moreover, he referenced his positional play and that his spatial awareness development is well ahead of the curve, especially for a play of his age and level of NHL experience. The stat we will throw at you, is quite remarkable when you think about it. In the 28 games Pinto recorded a point in 2024-25, the Sens were 26-1-1. What!?!
That’s the one angle to take on Pinto’s contract negotiations. The longer it goes, the more money the Sens are going to have pay him. But listening to Staios, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mostly referencing him feeling like a part of the team’s core. Of course, his extra-curricular work with the US National Team further drives up his value potentially. But really, the extra confidence he will exude on the ice, should only benefit the Sens bottom line. That bottom line being, going on a Stanley Cup Playoff run in 2026 and the years beyond.
Main Photo Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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