SNAPSHOTS: Shane Pinto has shown confidence as Senators’ camp enters its final phase
Pinto #Pinto
It should come as no surprise, but Shane Pinto’s performance in training camp has turned heads.
After missing most of last season because of shoulder surgery he had late in November, the Ottawa Senators’ centre has had a strong camp and has been one of the club’s most consistent performers throughout the pre-season.
Pinto has formed good chemistry with wingers Tyler Motte and Mathieu Joseph .
“To be honest, Pinto’s line has maybe been our best,” coach D.J. Smith told reporters before facing the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night at home. “It’s impressive how smart he is but this is exhibition and the pace is going to continue to rev itself up every single game.
“Right now, you’re still playing split-squads and you’re seeing a little bit of each team with some minor-league guys and some tryout guys. As this week goes, you’re going to see some real NHL players and then you can evaluate is he where we think he is? But we couldn’t be any happier with the way that he’s played.”
Pinto’s linemates are impressed.
“He’s a big body and he skates well,” Motte said of Pinto. “He’s got good puck skills and he’s got a knack for knowing where he needs to be on the ice. His ‘Hockey IQ’ is pretty high. He may be a little inexperienced at the pro level, but the way he sees the game, thinks the game and the way that he works really make up for that.
“He’s only going to become a better player as we go here. He’s a guy that I trust as a centre on my line and I trust working with him a lot. He’s only going to continue to get better.”
The key for Pinto is he has good confidence and that can be half the battle at this level.
“He’s confident in his own abilities and that’s huge for a young player,” Motte added. “Hopefully, we can continue to support him and put him in positions to succeed.”
ON THE RADAR SCREEN
A player who’s made an impression is defenceman Jacob Larsson .
The 25-year-old Larsson, a first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, signed as a free agent with the Senators in the summer. He skates with blueliner Erik Brannstrom in Sweden during the summer and Larsson is comfortable in his new surroundings.
Larsson may get sent to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville Sunday as a part of a large group of cuts but there’s no doubt he’ll play games here this season.
“He’s put himself on the radar,” Smith said. “He’s smart, he doesn’t over-complicate the game and I think that’s something as you get older that you learn. You just let the puck do the work and you don’t make the big mistake.
“It’s not about being a safe player, it’s about being a reliable player and if he can do that he’s going to be able to get himself some games.”
Larsson said he wanted to put himself in the mix to be called up. He’s moved himself up on the club’s depth chart with his effort.
“That’s my goal,” Larsson said. “They’ve got a lot of good defencemen here. There might be a spot open, I don’t really know but I’m just trying to do my best out there to impress the GM and the coaching staff.”
THIS N’ THAT
Winger Ridly Greig, who suffered a shoulder injury at the IIHF world junior championship last month in Edmonton, made his preseason debut against the Habs. The Senators were anxious to see where his game was at. “He’s a really competitive player, a really good junior and he got hurt at the world juniors but he was a really big part of that team,” said Smith. “He’s a big part of the organization going forward. He can skate and he can forecheck and he’s got a lot of energy and skill. He’s going to be a really good player for a long time. It’s just, ‘How soon is he ready’.” … That cross-check to centre Josh Norris’ from Denis Malgin in a 6-3 loss to the Leafs Friday night in Belleville caused some damage. Norris told legendary play-by-play broadcaster Dean Brown Saturday that he had five stitches and chipped a tooth as a result of the stick There was no call on the play because the officials told the bench none of them saw it.
THE LAST WORDS
The Habs signed G Jake Allen to a two-year, $7.7 million extension Saturday. That will keep the 32-year-old under contract until the end of the 2024-25 campaign. He has been thrust into the No. 1 role this season with Carey Price placed on long-term injury reserve. The Habs like Allen because he’s happy to be part of a team that’s going through a complete rebuild. “I read this quote the other day and it really resonated with me: You need guys that are willing to plant trees knowing they’ll never sit in the shade,” coach Martin St. Louis told Montreal reporters. “You need guys like that. And Jake is that.” … There’s no update on the status of goalie Cam Talbot. He was scheduled to face the Habs but didn’t suit up because of an undisclosed injury. “We thought he may be back (on the ice Saturday) but he’s not,” Smith said. The hope is Talbot will skate Monday.
bgarrioch@postmedia.com
Twitter: @sungarrioch