NHL Rumors: Insider highlights how Brady Tkachuk's future could influence $7,500,000 center's next contract

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is currently dealing with a thumb injury. He is expected to be out until December 13, but despite his absence, the Senators have dominated their rivals over the last week. They have won four of their last five games, including wins over the Boston Bruins (7-2) and the Washington Capitals (7-1).

Now part of the credit can be given to forward Shane Pinto, who is in the last year of his two-year $7,500,000 contract. He is eligible to sign an extension since July 1 and is awaiting an extension from the Senators. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

In his Friday column for the Ottawa Citizen, reporter Bruce Garrioch discussed Pinto's situation. He said the Senators might not be able to keep all their top players because Tkachuk needs to be signed in a few years.

"Captain Brady Tkachuk’s contract will be up at the end of the 2027-28 campaign, which raises the question of whether the Senators can keep this group together," Garrioch wrote. "Tkachuk will be a free agent in the same class as Toronto captain Auston Matthews and Edmonton captain Connor McDavid."

But Pinto is young at 24 and has shown flashes of skilled play this season. Garrioch suggested a shorter deal for Pinto could work better.

"A three-year contract would allow him to see where the franchise is headed and, by then, everybody will know whether Tkachuk is signed to another extension," Garrioch wrote.

Pinto started the 2025-26 season with a bang, scoring four goals in the first two games. He has eight goals and three assists in twelve games. His plus-two rating shows solid two-way play. So, he has become a dependable forward for Ottawa, currently centering the third line.

Ottawa Senators' improvement under captain Brady Tkachuk

Last season, Brady Tkachuk led the Senators to end a seven-year playoff drought. They finished with a 45-30-7 record and lost in the first round. The loss came against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, the team showed progress and growth, and their goal this season is to build on that success.

Now, 12 games into the season, they have a 6-5-1 record. They are third in the Atlantic Division, averaging 3.58 goals per game. However, for now, their defense has been a concern as they are allowing significantly more than that. They will have to improve on that front while contract talks progress with Pinto over the course of this season.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar