For the Ottawa Senators having Shane Pinto back in the lineup serves many intangibles. Not to mention scoring a beautiful game-winner in the Sens last game before the All-Star break. If for no other reason, it helps round out their forward group, giving them close to a full alignment with Pinto in. Therefore, this gives the Senators the feel of a team many had picked in the offseason to battle for a Wild Card position. Even watching the group, when they put forward a full 60-minute effort, they are usually in games. However, when they are not fully engaged, they need to dig deep to deal with adversity and find resiliency. With Pinto in the lineup, that makes that task more manageable.
Shane Pinto provided the helper on the #Sens second goal of the game before finishing the game off with the diving OT winner to lead the team to victory and with it earn the @Ottos_Subaru Performer of The Game honours!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/J0J7X1wfg6
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 1, 2024
Everyone on the Ottawa Senators Seems to Love Shane Pinto
The Ottawa Senators are a different team with Shane Pinto. First of all, he is young and has a bit of a happy-go-lucky attitude to bring to the locker room. When the Senators find themselves out of the playoff race by December, sometimes they need a boost. Whether that boost is in morale or a complete player, Pinto can suffice.
The Swiss-Army Knife Guy
Pinto is a solid two-way, centre. He brings size, and at 23 years old, does have strength in his frame. The one downside is at that age he still only has 105 career NHL games under his belt. Hence, for a two-way type player, he still has a lot of development to complete.
Looks at His Stats, What’s Not to Love
Throughout his sample, he has proven to be able to produce offensively, with numbers above two points per 60 minutes. This would translate into 50-plus points, for a middle-six guy, who can play on the second power play unit. Again, with not a huge sample size, he is a career plus 50% in the face-off circle. Also, he is responsible and is a plus in the takeaway/giveaway differential. One final stat is his consistent (and respectable) career 12.1 shooting percentage. Basically, he does the things that a ‘professional’ would be expected of him. The Senators lineup is much better with him in it. Since coming back, Pinto has been playing with Ridly Greig and Vladimir Tarasenko and looked very impressive.
The Butterfly Effect from Management Down to the Role Players
Pinto is the type of player that you can insert into a tough spot in a game. When the other team has momentum, putting him out there, will stall it. This is how you avoid those notorious second-period letdowns. In addition, this is the type of thing that management has identified as what the Senators need to improve upon. The biggest differentiator needs to be the management’s accountability and, unlike the previous regime, not tied to its current resources. When key players go down with injuries, they need to quickly identify fixes, internally or externally. For example, having Joshua Norris down last year needed a suitable filler. It seems the Steve Staios group will be able to make those types of integral moves.
There Will Be Important Decisions in the Offseason for the Ottawa Senators and Shane Pinto
One more discussion for the Ottawa Senators and Shane Pinto is what to do with his contract. The Senators need his two-way influence in their lineup. Also, he is a 20-goal scorer in the NHL. Plus all the intangibles we have discussed. Conversely, the Senators do not have an abundance of cap space and need him on a value contract. Of course, his suspension will hurt his bargaining chip. Therefore, it feels like a value contract for two to three years. This allows Pinto to succeed in Ottawa, and prove his worth for the club. Furthermore, it allows the Senators to grow around him. This possibly means with the increasing cap limit, eventually having the ability to give him more money down the road.
As Pinto has come back, we have really seen his value to the club. The Senators lacked two-way forwards with him out for the first half of the season. Now that he is back, the third line expands its identity and influence. In the future, if a player like Pinto, or another two-way impact, Ridly Greig, goes down, they need to act quickly. If shuffling roles is not an option internally, they need to trade an asset to replace that player’s effect. One point the Senators have lacked, is a true identity, third line. The shutdown line. Playoff teams need a line to shut down a top-two line and outscore a third line. Otherwise, those bubble teams don’t break through.
Main photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
