After thoughts of when and how long a contract extension would be for 25-year-old forward Shane Pinto, the Ottawa Senators shut down all projections this morning. The Senators officially signed Pinto to a four-year contract at a cap hit of $7.5 million per year.
Excitement for the Senators and their fans is with reason, knowing Pinto will be a Senator for four more years. Seventeen games into this season, Pinto is off to a hot start. Pinto's eight goals are tied for the most on the Senators this season.
Even with signing a contract extension today, it's never too early to look ahead down the road. Now, 2030 will be an interesting Summer for the Senators after Pinto's extension.
Pinto's contract runs out the same year as Cozens
With Pinto's new four-year contract extension, his contract will now run out the same year as Dylan Cozens. Now, 2030 will be an interesting year for the Senators.
Cozens' cap hit of $7.1 million per year is close to Pinto's $7.5 million cap hit. Some projections thought Pinto's cap hit would be close to Cozens', and it was. But, it now puts the Senators in a tough position with the two forwards with both of them being free agents at the same time.
Pinto is off to the best start of his career with having 14 points, but is cold as of late. Pinto has scored one goal in the last 11 games. Eventually, Pinto will likely turn his cold stretch around.
Cozens is thriving in his first full season as a Senator with having 12 points in 17 games. Cozens has turned into one of Ottawa's most reliable offensive players, particularly on the powerplay.
Both Pinto and Cozens are identical with both being drafted in 2019, only Cozens was a first-round draft pick selection and Pinto was a second-round pick selection. So far, Cozens' career has been better. Cozens has recorded 225 career points to Pinto's 121 career points.
Depending on which Senator does better until 2030, it could put the team in a tough position of which player is more worthy to re-sign when the times arrives. Now, both Pinto and Cozens have 4.5 more years to prove who will be more worthy to keep.
Until then, Pinto's extension will keep the Senators in playoff conversations for years. Having two solid forwards of Pinto and Cozens under contract until 2030 gives the Senators a chance to be a solid team, but it does put the team in a tough position when free agency will draw closer.