Senators’ Shane Pinto: A Darkhorse Calder Candidate No More

Having undergone shoulder surgery which limited him to 12 games last season, Shane Pinto set a modest goal for the 2022-23 campaign – to just play a game.

While the 21-year-old was being his humourous self after the Senators’ 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals Thursday, Pinto appeared serious when he responded, “I mean, yeah, that was that it was definitely – just to play a game, and definitely to help the team. That’s what I want to do coming into this year.”

Pinto is doing just that. Slotted between left wing Tyler Motte and Mathieu Joseph on his right, the Long Island, NY area resident is quickly becoming one of the club’s most reliable and responsible forwards.

In his final season at the University of North Dakota, Pinto earned National Collegiate Hockey Conference honours as the player of the year, top forward and defensive forward of the year, a rare feat, and he’s quickly bringing his high hockey acumen to the NHL.

Senators’ head coach D.J. Smith summarized Pinto’s four games into this season Thursday, “He’s playing with a lot of detail. He’s playing inside the dots – finding open areas, and he’s playing hard defensively. When he plays like that – the way he can carry the puck up ice – he was in on all kinds of scoring chances.”

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Defensively responsible, Pinto’s line was on the ice protecting a one-goal in the final minute versus the Capital, a game in which the six-foot-two, 192-pound centre tallied the game-winning marker. Pinto one-timed a snap-wrister off a Motte feed from behind the net.

Pinto’s offensive prowess has also come into focus, with the youngster scoring three of his four NHL career goals in the past three consecutive games.

Smith noted, “It comes off real quick. It’s deceptive. It’s gone before it gets there.” Meaning Pinto’s already winding up prior to the puck hitting his blade.

Don't blink when Shane Pinto's in front of the net! 🚨#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/xtYYhrO7iG

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 21, 2022

Tyler Motte who hadn’t seen much of Pinto prior to signing with the Senators, has been impressed with his game, “That’s him. He shoots the puck well. – obviously from the slot – that’s where we want him to be. He’s got a good wrister. He works hard though. He’s reliable, a young guy – he’s still learning a bit of the game. If we can continue to push him, he’s going to be a great player.”

Drake Batherson who worked out with Pinto when the pair were injured last season, saw firsthand, the determination and potential of his teammate, “It’s unreal, I got to skate with him for like a month and a half last year when we were both injured. I knew what type of player he was. I’ve been telling people all summer to watch this kid this year, and he’s been showing it. He’s a great kid. He’s going to be a great player.”

For Pinto himself, he’s keeping it simple, “I’m just playing my game honestly and kind of just thinking out there, playing my game, and it’s worked out. Thankfully, I’ve been on a line that works so hard to give me those chances. But they’re all going in right now.”

When it comes to Calder Trophy candidates, the names Matty Beniers, Mason McTavish, Kent Johnson, Senators’ Jake Sanderson are the ones generally mentioned. However, by virtue of his early season performance, Shane Pinto has entered the conversation.