The Ottawa Senators centre Shane Pinto has been suspended by the league for 41 games for gambling, why this is more than a hockey issue.
Pinto's suspension is retro-active to the Senators' first game of the season. I don't believe he would sign with the team now until he has served his suspension in January. The Dec. 1 RFA signing deadline doesn't apply to him because he's not Group 2 (can't sign an offer sheet).
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 26, 2023
Shane Pinto has been suspended from participating in 41 NHL games after he was in trouble for gambling. But there is a bigger picture here. There is a problem for the Ottawa Senators, the NHL, and all major sports. That is the problem with gambling as a whole on sports events. Let’s take a look at Shane Pinto’s situation, why it is not unique, and how it will impact others.
Shane Pinto Suspended 41 Games for Gambling
Senators’ Pinto to be suspended 41 games for violating NHL gambling rules https://t.co/9AwBdMXfpC
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 26, 2023
It is clear that the Ottawa Senators currently unsigned restricted free agent Shane Pinto has been suspended for gambling. As more time passes, more details are trickling in. It appears as though he informed an outside party who then used that information to bet on hockey games. More specifically, he is being penalized for violating the league’s policies on gambling. Now, Pinto’s level of guilt could be argued in this circumstance. Conversely, the fact that Pinto is not appealing the 41-game suspension does indicate a lack of judgment on the young man’s part.
Troubles for the Ottawa Senators
So, why do you ask is this a bigger problem of gambling than just Shane Pinto? First and foremost, his club. It was strange that they had not done everything in their power to re-sign the talented, two-way centre. Rather they went out of their way to use up available cap space. For example, they took on contracts of Erik Brannstrom, Vladimir Tarasenko, Joonas Korpisalo, and Dominik Kubalik. Yes, some were necessary, but that is still $13.5 M that could have been redistributed elsewhere. So maybe, just maybe there was a reason General Manager Pierre Dorion didn’t do more to re-sign Pinto.
Will Pierre Dorion Be Let Go?
Not official, but it’s looking like PD’s days are coming to an end and Chiarelli will be his replacement.
— SENS TALK (@senstalk_) October 26, 2023
Now there are even reports surfacing that Dorion’s time in Ottawa may be coming to an end. The fans have been frustrated for some time with the lack of winning. And yes, even with a couple of the past summers being dubbed “Summer of Pierre,” it appears all good things must come to an end. Ottawa’s inability to turn it around, and having some large holes in their roster, have caused the impression of Dorion to sour. For instance, not re-signing Pinto, or addressing the right side of defence, are clear holes in the Sens current lineup. This definitely brings into question how much Dorion knew of the Pinto situation, and whether he acted with integrity throughout the process.
Gambling in the NHL
Of course, now you are all wondering, outside of the Senators organization, why Shane Pinto gambling is bad for the NHL. The answer is simple, dollars and cents. The NHL relies on a lot of sponsorship money from legal betting channels. Despite the fact, that yes, this is a legitimate business, it is the league’s approach that has some fans turned off. It just seems wherever you look, top NHL stars, like a Wayne Gretzky or Auston Matthews, are encouraging you to place bets on their club. The message can be very contradictory, for athletes themselves, and how they can help influence activities. With the accessibility of athletes through social media these days, any news could turn into scandal at the flip of a hat.
The Problem With Betting in Sports
What is necessary to pull this full-circle is this problem is not unique to hockey and the NHL. Many professional sports have long had gambling issues. Look at the NFL, just back in June, four players were suspended for gambling violations. Furthermore, we all remember in baseball the Pete Rose lifetime ban for his actions, or way back to the 1919 Black Sox scandal. The fact is, that it has been around for a very long time, and we must do what we can to mitigate the risk.
Risk With No Reward
Then we must ask, is the NHL doing everything it can to mitigate the risk and its exposure? Perhaps Pinto was taking the fall for a potentially much bigger wave to come crashing down. Maybe it was just an innocent conversation with a friend, that turned into an enormous payday. The point is, it is just so easy to do today. The NHL must minimize the exposure. Gambling and the lottery, are supposed to be about giving back to the community. For all the proceeds gained by those companies, they need to give back. For the most part, they do do that. But what does a kid think when Connor McDavid is on TV saying, you know what would make watching me more exciting? If you spent $10 to try to win 11.
Main photo: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
