Shane Pinto agrees to four-year, $30 million contract extension with Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators have locked in one of their most promising young players for the long term, announcing that center Shane Pinto has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $30 million. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $7.5 million per season, secures the 24-year-old through the 2029-30 campaign and represents a significant investment in the team’s core. With this extension finalized, the Senators have solidified their center depth by ensuring their top three pivots—Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens, and Pinto—remain under contract through the end of the decade.

The new deal doubles Pinto’s current salary, as he was making $3.75 million in the final year of his previous contract signed in July 2024. The $7.5 million average annual value places him squarely between teammates Dylan Cozens, who earns $7.1 million, and Tim Stutzle, who commands $8.35 million. The contract also allows the Senators to buy two years of unrestricted free agency from Pinto, who was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 with arbitration rights. By securing those UFA years, Ottawa has protected itself from the possibility of losing Pinto to free agency when he would have been just 26 years old.

Pinto’s eight goals through 16 games this season highlight his rising value and two-way game, contributing to Ottawa’s plans to compete for playoff positioning in the near term. The extension keeps three top centers—Stutzle, Cozens, and Pinto—under contract through 2030, providing flexibility in lineup deployment and depth across the lineup.

This four-year term aligns with Ottawa’s broader strategy of building through the middle with young talent while maintaining cap flexibility for future signings and potential extensions.