OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have locked up another key piece of their young core.

Centre Shane Pinto signed a four-year contract extension with the Senators on Thursday. The deal carries a US$7.5 million annual average through the 2029-30 season.

The deal is a step forward for the organization and a personal victory for the 25-year-old Pinto two years after his career looked like it might be derailed. He missed the first 41 games of the 2023-24 season while serving a suspension for violating the NHL’s gambling policy.

“I’ve been through my ups and downs the first couple years of my career, and they’ve always been there for me,” Pinto said of his Ottawa teammates. “So, just to have them and be with them for the next few years, it’s obviously very special to me and my family, so that’s a big reason why I did it.”

Pinto’s responsible two-way presence has provided the Senators’ depth down the middle. He’s established himself as one of Ottawa’s most trusted forwards, and the organization is excited to watch his progression.

He has eight goals and six assists in 17 games this season, his sixth with the Senators. He had a career year in 2024-25, scoring 21 goals and 16 assists in 70 games.

A second-round pick (32nd overall) in 2019, Pinto has 121 points in 227 NHL games.

Head coach Travis Green said Pinto’s maturity and team-first mentality set him apart.

“He’s not selfish. He could easily complain about not always playing on the second power play when he’s more than capable of it,” said Green. “Sometimes we keep him off so we can come back to him against the other team’s top players.

“He understands the value of that part and appreciates his importance that maybe isn’t always spoken about. He exemplifies exactly what we want a lot of our players to believe in. He just wants to win.”

Pinto’s deal allows Ottawa to lock down another key member of its core through his prime years.

“We feel like it was a fair deal for both sides,” said Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Steve Staios. “I think the term allows some flexibility on both sides, and this group has an opportunity now, with where we are, with our contracts, and they continue to make strides in the right direction.”

The four-year term felt like the perfect balance for Pinto.

“I just kind of want to see where it’s at when I’m 29,” said Pinto. “I just felt like it was just a good deal for both sides, and I think those are a good part of my career, hopefully, 25 to 29.

“Hopefully I have some good years and that’s just the number I came up with now.”

For Staios, Pinto’s new deal is another sign that the Senators’ young core, now largely signed long-term, is entering a new phase.

“A lot of it is to watch them grow together,” said Staios. “I think that this eliminates any distractions as well. I’ve said that I have belief in this core group of players.

“They are a committed, well-intended group. They know that they can get better. They’re committed to getting better. They’re not satisfied or pleased with even where we are right now, and I think that’s exciting.”

With Pinto joining Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Drake Batherson under contract, the Senators have finally locked in the foundation they’ve been building toward for years. It’s a group that’s learning, maturing and growing together toward a common goal.

“Everyone’s going to buy in now,” said Pinto. “I think everyone’s bought in, you know, we’re hoping to do some special things here in the near future.”

That belief is shared throughout the organization.

“I think our strength down the middle or depth down the middle has, is continuing to develop,” added Staios. “We’re not as young anymore. But we’re gaining experience, but certainly there’s some comfort with the people that we have down the middle of the ice, the addition of Lars (Eller) as well. It has versatility, it has veteran presence. But between Tim (Stutzle) and Shane (Pinto) and Dylan (Cozens) and their potential growth as well as a group, it’s exciting for the team.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2025.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press