Ottawa Senators restricted free agent Shane Pinto is currently not listed on the 56-player training camp roster the team released on Tuesday.
GM Pierre Dorion is looking to sign Pinto as quickly as possible to ensure the 22-year-old center can participate in training camp. The 32nd pick in 2019 is coming off his three-year, entry-level contract in a year that saw him record 20 goals and 35 points in his first full season.
Ottawa only has a limited amount of cap space ($895,953), which has sparked trade rumors surrounding Pinto and the franchise. Specifically, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Philadelphia Flyers reportedly made an offer to the Senators that would’ve involved Pinto and winger Mathieu Joseph as a salary dump, but the proposed trade did not pick up much momentum. One of the likeliest outcomes in the Pinto situation could be the Senators looking to move salary through a trade to clear cap space and sign Pinto.
GM Dorion mentioned to TSN 1200 that he was going back and forth with Pinto’s camp earlier this morning with reference to contract negotiations. It’s evident the team wants to get a deal done very soon, but Dorion didn’t want to predict a timeline.
“All the pieces are in place, most of our young core, except for one, is signed,” Dorion said on Sept. 14 while speaking at an event hosted by Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe, per Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. “We’re working on that one, and we’re hoping to see him in camp next week.”
Restricted free agent Egor Sokolov is also without a contract but is listed on the Senators training camp roster.
Ottawa has more than five million dollars in dead cap space this season after retaining salary on the Matt Murray trade and their buyouts of Bobby Ryan, Michael Del Zotto, and Colin White.
More must-reads: