Senators sign Shane Pinto to two-year deal after dealing Joseph

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Steve Staios took care of business Tuesday.

First, the Ottawa Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager sent winger Mathieu Joseph packing to the St. Louis Blues to get his salary off the books. Then, the club announced it had signed restricted free agent centre Shane Pinto to a contract extension.

The two-year deal with Pinto is worth $3.75 million U.S. per season and was made possible after the Senators sent Joseph and his $2.95 million salary for the next two seasons to the Blues with a third-round pick in exchange for future considerations.

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That move left the club with $7.35 million in cap space, and the bridge deal with Pinto allows both sides to get ready for next season. With Pinto signed, the Senators now have just under $4 million in cap space with 10 forwards under contract. The club still needs depth for its fourth line.

Staios had stated the organization wanted to get a deal done with Pinto, but the Senators were having a difficult time getting a long-term contract in place and Postmedia reported last month that the two sides were focused on a two-year deal for the 23-year-old.

“We’re thrilled to reach agreement with Shane,” said Staios. “This negotiation was one of many significant items that needed to be addressed this summer and we remained committed to doing that given the importance of Shane’s role within our forward group.

“As the roster continues to take shape, we’re eagerly awaiting training camp.”

Pinto, who was suspended for 41 games for breaking the NHL’s gambling rules last season, has 30 goals and 70 points in 140 games in his career. He was elevated into the role as the club’s second-line centre when Josh Norris suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in February.

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The Senators had told all the teams that called to try to trade for Pinto that they had no interest in moving him and that the first priority was to get him signed. Postmedia has reported that his agent, Lewis Gross, had been trying to get teams to give him an offer sheet for Pinto to try to get a deal in place.

Everybody knew the Senators would get a contract done with Pinto, but the club needed to have some flexibility with the cap.

The Senators were tight to the cap with only $4.4 million to spend after signing forwards David Perron ($4 million) and Michael Amadio ($2.6 million) to deals on July 1.

A league executive believed the deal to send Joseph packing was an olive branch to Pinto to show him that the club wanted to make room for him, and if he was willing to take a two-year deal to solve the stalemate then that would work both sides.

The Senators have been trying to move Joseph since the season ended in mid-April, but hadn’t been able to find any takers. He finished with 11 goals and 35 points in 72 games last season, but his play fell off in the second half and Staios felt the best bet was for both sides to move on.

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Joseph was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for Nick Paul. After finishing with four goals and eight points in 12 games with Ottawa, he was signed to a four-year extension, but just hasn’t lived up to expectations.

A few hours after the Joseph deal, the Blues signed his brother, Pierre-Olivier, a defenceman, to a one-way, $950,000 contract as an unrestricted free agent. He wasn’t able to get a deal in place with the Pittsburgh Penguins and hit the open market Monday.

MINOR-LEAGUE MOVES

The Senators continued to bring in depth for Belleville on Day 2 of free agency.

While Staios addressed needs with Ottawa on Monday, Belleville general manager Ryan Bowness brought in some help for AHL head coach David Bell and his staff Tuesday.

Defencemen Jacob Larsson and Lassi Thomson, who both played key roles for the Senators last season, signed overseas for next year along with Czechia winger Jiri Smejkal.

That meant the organization needed to bring in some help to get Belleville back to the playoffs next season.

The club brought back forward Adam Gaudette on a one-year, two-way deal that carries a $775,000 salary in the NHL and a $450,000 price tag in the AHL. He had 44 goals and 71 points with Springfield last season.

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Gaudette played 50 games for Ottawa during the 2021-22 campaign and will be a candidate for a call-up.

The Senators started the day by signing blueliner Filip Roos to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $775,000 in the NHL and $150,000 in the AHL. He spent most of last season with the Rockford IceHogs, but the 25-year-old did suit up for seven games with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Trying to add more depth up front, the Senators brought in forward Hayden Hodgson on a one-year, two-way deal at $775,000 in the NHL and $325,000 guarantee in the AHL.

The 28-year-old Hodgson suited up for 49 games with the Ontario Reign, the affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. He had six goals and 16 points.

The Senators also confirmed they’ve hired Stefen Legein and Andrew Campbell as assistant coaches in Belleville.

THE LAST WORDS

The Senators opened their annual development camp Tuesday with 33 players at the Bell Sensplex and they’ll be in town until Friday.

Twenty-two players were selected by the club in the NHL draft, including No. 7 overall selection Carter Yakemchuk, a blueliner from the Calgary Hitmen, is getting his first chance to visit Ottawa since being selected in Vegas.

The top prospects here include Jorian Donovan, Stephen Halliday, Tomas Hamara along with goalies Mads Sogaard and Leevi Merialinen.

BGarrioch@postmedia.com

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