RFA Shane Pinto Makes Surprising Move As Senators Stalemate Continues

The Shane Pinto Stalemate continues in Canada's capital, as the Ottawa Senators have still not been able to find the cap room to sign their rookie 20-goal scorer from last season. 

Now, Pinto has made the next move. He's leaving Ottawa, heading home to get away from the stress.

Shane Pinto has returned home. Too much attention here and wants to focus on training. #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 13, 2023

The 22-year-old has returned to Long Island to focus on training and staying in hockey shape for whenever GM Pierre Dorion decides to settle this conundrum. 

But according to Insider Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period, the dispute is "getting worse by the day."

OTT, as expected, continues to not engage in any trade talks involving Shane Pinto, I'm told. With Pierre Dorion also not willing to pay the price to free up cap space, this stalemate seems to be getting worse by the day.

Have to wonder how this ultimately plays itself out. https://t.co/psAxz2qIVm

— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) October 13, 2023

Di Marco says he's been told that Ottawa is not considering trading Pinto, and that Dorion is "not willing to pay the price to free up cap space."

Other reports have indicated that Dorion has been having trade discussions with teams on forward Mathieu Joseph and defenceman Erik Brannstrom to try to clear cap space, but nothing has materialized on those fronts as of yet.

So Pinto is back on Long Island and the Senators are down a key centre. 

Photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports