Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto is setting his sights high heading into the new season, saying he believes he has a 30-goal campaign in him.
"I mean, hopefully, I think I can get to 30 goals. I think that's definitely obtainable," Pinto said.
Coming off a career year
Pinto has real evidence to back up the confidence. He set career highs across the board last season, putting up 23 goals and 23 assists in 72 games for the Senators.
Part of that growth could come on special teams. Pinto has typically played the bumper position on Ottawa's second power-play unit, but there's a chance he gets a look on the top unit this season. More time on the number one power play would give him more high-quality scoring chances, and could be the difference between a good season and the 30-goal season he's targeting.
A new contract to match
Pinto's ambitions come as he enters the first year of a new contract extension that will pay him, on average, $7.5 million per year over four seasons. It's the kind of deal that comes with expectations attached, and Pinto's public goal-setting suggests he's ready to embrace them rather than shy away from the pressure.
He's already proven he can be more than a scorer. Only a few months ago, Pinto received eight first-place votes for the Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the league's top defensive forward, for his play in 2025-26. That two-way reputation, paired with a scoring jump, would make him one of the more complete forwards in the Senators' lineup.
Stepping up after departures
Pinto also pointed to turnover on the roster as a reason players like him need to raise their output. "I mean, obviously with the departures, guys are going to have to step up," he said. With some familiar faces gone from the lineup, Ottawa will be counting on returning players to fill the gap in scoring and leadership.
What led here
Pinto's comments come during a busy training camp stretch for the Senators. Ottawa recently signed veteran defenceman Ben Hutton to a professional tryout to cover injuries to Artem Zub and Warren Foegele, as detailed in ottown's earlier report. The organization has also been showcasing its prospect pipeline, with Ottawa's prospects beating Toronto's in overtime at the NHL Prospect Challenge in Gatineau, covered in ottown's earlier report.
For Ottawa fans, Pinto's target gives the season a clear number to watch. If he backs up the prediction, the Senators will have a legitimate two-way threat anchoring their lineup for years to come under his new contract.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen (via Yahoo News Canada)
