After spending the last few days with the team, Ottawa Senators restricted free agent Shane Pinto has left town, Postmedia’s Bruce Garriock reports.
Garriock reported that the unsigned forward wants to focus on training when he returns home, citing too much attention on him in Ottawa. The 22-year-old center is from Franklin Square, New York.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported Thursday that general manager Pierre Dorion continued to hold talks. They also discussed trading Matthew Joseph and defenseman. The Senators, played by Eric Brannstrom, look for cap space to re-sign Pinto.
Drager pointed out earlier this week that the only thing between pen and paper is cap space.
“Both the Pinto and Sens camps are trying to find a solution,” Draeger wrote about X. “There is no stalemate. This is purely a cap issue.”
Pinto is the highest-profile unsigned restricted free agent remaining in the league after the league’s end. Signed with Anaheim Ducks with Trevor Zegras Jamie Drysdale signed a three-year contract last week.
Last season, his first full season in the NHL, he played in 82 games, scoring 20 goals and 35 points. He played in just five games in the 2021-22 season due to a shoulder injury.
Pinto was selected in the top second round by the Senators in the 2019 draft.
According to CapFriendly, the Senators have just $62,620 in cap space despite having a roster of just 20 players.
Ottawa has a dead cap of more than $5 million this season as they withheld salaries. Matt Murray and their previous acquisition of Bobby Ryan; Colin White and Michael Del Zotto.
