Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion hopes to ink restricted free-agent forward Shane Pinto to a new deal within the week.

"All the pieces are in place; most of our young core, except for one, is signed," Dorion said Thursday, per Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "We're working on that one and we're hoping to see (Pinto) in camp next week."

The Senators currently have less than $900,000 in cap space, according to CapFriendly. Evolving-Hockey projects that Pinto will sign a two-year pact with a $1.78-million cap hit.

He isn't the only restricted free agent remaining on Ottawa's books: Winger Egor Sokolov also needs a new contract.

Pinto pitched in with 20 goals - the fourth most in the rookie class - and 35 points in 82 contests during his first full NHL campaign last season, rebounding from a tough 2021-22 season in which he was limited to just five games due to a shoulder injury.

The 22-year-old was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in October after erupting for six goals in his first eight games of the 2022-23 season.

The Senators selected Pinto in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

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NHL players, like most athletes, will try to use anything they can as motivation. An opponent even mildly downplays them while talking to reporters? Instant bulletin-board material.

But players' motivations go far beyond petty rivalries, of course. Some have to justify their status as a high draft pick, and previous top picks who haven't quite panned out eventually have to prove themselves, too. Some superstars may feel they have to live up to a hefty contract, especially when it's among the richest in the game.

Some are on the verge of a new deal as pending unrestricted free agents, and the lure of a more lucrative pact often brings out the best in them. In addition, players who've struggled recently while making a significant amount of cash need to prove both that they're worth their contracts and that they can return to the stellar form that made signing them for big money and term worthwhile.

Here are the five NHLers with the most to prove in the 2023-24 campaign:

Connor Bedard

Bedard doesn't really have to justify that he was worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft - at least not right away. Most people know that was warranted given his utter dominance at the junior level and on the international stage. He was the best player available, and anyone who disputes that has some explaining to do.

But that doesn't mean Bedard has nothing to prove entering his rookie season. He does need to show he's capable of adapting to the speed and physicality of the NHL - in other words, he's dealing with the same pressure all No. 1 picks endure. He's also the new face of the Blackhawks franchise, and they're now shaping the roster around him. So he has to justify his status as the cornerstone of the new era in Chicago, one of the largest and most storied markets in the league.

Then there are the inevitable Connor McDavid comparisons, which he's already shrugging off. "I'm not him. I'm my own person and my own player," Bedard said recently about his namesake. So that's yet another thing he'll be out to prove. Given his body of work and the skills he's consistently displayed, it won't be surprising if Bedard doesn't need much time to start living up to the sky-high expectations. But he'll clearly be motivated to he's worth being labeled a generational player and one that can singlehandedly alter the trajectory of a franchise.

Auston Matthews

We all know Matthews is one of the NHL's absolute best scorers who's developed an impressive two-way game. But the Toronto Maple Leafs superstar will be the league's highest-paid player starting in 2024-25 after signing a four-year extension for a record $13.25 million annually last month.

Matthews is also coming off a down year by his ultra-lofty standards, though he played through a hand injury and still managed to notch 40 goals and 45 assists in 74 games. Even so, he needs to prove he's worth the unprecedented new contract by getting back into the Hart and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy conversations. If he stays healthy, it stands to reason that will happen, but he needs to rediscover the form that earned him hardware in both previous seasons before 2022-23.

Throw in the fact that the Maple Leafs are coming off yet another humiliating end to a season despite finally winning a series, as well as the fact that Toronto remains one of the toughest markets in the league in which to play, and there may be more pressure on Matthews in the upcoming campaign than he's ever faced during a regular season since he first arrived in the league.

William Nylander

Matthews' teammate will be under the microscope for different reasons, but Nylander has plenty to prove in 2023-24 in his own right. The pending UFA has a track record of consistent production - both in the regular season and the playoffs - even matching Matthews with a team-high 40 goals last season (albeit in eight more games). Nylander will be playing for a new deal and a sizeable raise on his current cap hit of just under $7 million.

The question is how much higher should his next average annual value be. Nylander's performance this season could go a long way in determining that. Earlier in the summer, he was reportedly looking for an AAV in the $10-million range, which would put him closer to fellow core pieces Mitch Marner ($10.903 million) and captain John Tavares ($11 million).

Nylander's extension talks haven't gone swimmingly so far, but it's early, as he can sign an extension at any time until next July 1. If he doesn't have a new deal by the time the upcoming campaign begins in October, he'll be out to prove he's worthy of getting paid like some of his most talented teammates. If Nylander does agree to a new contract before the start of the season, he'll be in the same boat as Matthews in terms of having to prove he deserves it.

Jacob Markstrom

Markstrom needs to prove last season was an anomaly, not his new normal. The Calgary Flames goaltender was terrible in 2022-23. His minus-19.6 goals saved above average at five-on-five ranked fourth worst in the NHL (96th out of 99 netminders), and his minus-5.88 goals saved above expected in the same situations placed 83rd. He posted a .892 save percentage, a career low for him in seasons in which he's played more than 16 games.

The Flames disappointed as a team last season, but Markstrom's underlying numbers show he deserved a good chunk of the blame. The Swede used to be one of the league's most dependable puck-stoppers, authoring a .914 save percentage over the 328 games he played from 2015-16 through 2021-22. That past consistency is what earned him the six-year, $36-million contract he inked with Calgary in October 2020.

Markstrom, who has three years left on that deal, will turn 34 around halfway through the upcoming campaign Jan. 31. Players, and particularly goalies, typically decline at his age. But even if Markstrom never rediscovers his prime form, he can't afford to once again be one of the league's absolute worst netminders.

Alexis Lafreniere

Not every No. 1 overall pick becomes a star immediately upon stepping into the NHL, but Lafreniere is now entering his fourth season having collected just 47 goals and 44 assists across 216 games. The New York Rangers winger racked up 112 points in 52 contests during his third and final QMJHL season, but his game hasn't translated to the NHL the way many expected it would when the Blueshirts called his name first in 2020.

Lafreniere will turn 22 on Oct. 11, so he's still relatively young. He's also still under contract until 2025. The Quebec-born forward has shown flashes of his skill at times over his first three seasons. However, he hasn't established the consistency, let alone the elite level of play, one would hope a first overall pick with his resume would provide.

At some point, Lafreniere must start producing at a higher clip. It's been hard for him to carve out more ice time because Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin are ahead of him on the depth chart. But if he plays better in his lesser role, head coach Peter Laviolette will surely find a way to get him more minutes. It's still too early to call Lafreniere a bust, but he has to lot to prove this season to ensure that characterization doesn't become the consensus.

(Analytics source: Evolving Hockey)

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On the cusp of a new season, Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said he's still "pissed off" about Tampa Bay's first-round exit at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs this past spring.

"In my head, we should've won the Cup," Sergachev said, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "Every year, we should win the Cup."

He added: "We don't want to be the team that Toronto finally (beats to get) to the second round."

Toronto squeaked past Tampa Bay in six games to earn its first series win since 2004. The Lightning had reached the Stanley Cup Final in three consecutive seasons before the loss, winning the title in 2020 and 2021.

The Maple Leafs and Bolts have met in the playoffs for two straight years as the second and third seeds in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay won the first matchup in 2022 in seven games. The 2023 showdown marked the first time the Lightning failed to win a series since 2019, when they were infamously swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets despite winning the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top regular-season team.

Setbacks have been rare for Sergachev and the Lightning in recent years, but the blue-liner is adamant the club will use the loss to Toronto as fuel in 2023-24.

"We'll see when camp starts how pissed off we are. The guys are very competitive even now," he said.

"Usually before camp, we skate (together). We'll do five drills and play a game. Usually it's like beer-league hockey. Now, it's intense. Some hitting, too. It's great. Competitive. No one is going to let me walk them on the blue line. It's not acceptable anymore."

Sergachev, 25, set personal highs in assists (54), points (64), shots (156), and average ice time (23:49) last season. This coming campaign is the first of an eight-year, $68-million extension he signed last summer.

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Matt and Blake talk about the Canucks' Young Stars roster, which is deeper and stronger than most years, including 4 players who have made their NHL debut. They discuss the path forward for Akito Hirose, Cole McWard, Aidan McDonough and Aatu Räty, as well as the rosters being sent by the Oilers, Flames and Jets. Other topics include the unknown health status of Ilya Mikheyev; the eventful start of the KHL year for Vitaly Kravtsov, who remains Canucks property; the Lions' injury situation heading into Saturday's home game against Ottawa; the Caps set to sell a striker; and the Vancouver Canadians win in Game 1 of the Northwest League championship series. Frank Corrado stops by with his experiences of playing for Mike Babcock, his thoughts on Quinn Hughes being named Canucks captain, and his memories of playing in the Young Stars tournament. Jeff Paterson of the Rink Wide: Vancouver podcast stops by with his thoughts on the Young Stars roster, how Brock Boeser looked in speed drills this week, the arrival of Ian Cole and his forecast for Hirose this season. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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With Jonathan Toews no longer under contract and taking time away from the sport in 2023-24, the Chicago Blackhawks have a captain vacancy, and defenseman Seth Jones would love to fill the void.

Jones believes playing under some of the game's most respected leaders has helped him prepare to wear the "C."

"I've always wanted to be a captain," Jones said Tuesday, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "I've learned from some great leaders - Shea Weber, Nick Foligno, Jonathan Toews - I mean, I played with some of the greatest captains that we've seen. It would be pretty special."

It's unclear if the Blackhawks will even name a captain. It's not uncommon for rebuilding teams to go without one, and Chicago projects to be one of the NHL's worst clubs yet again.

"I understand where the organization is at," said Jones, who turns 29 in October. "I'm focused on going and just playing my game and leading whether I have a 'C,' an 'A,' or nothing on my jersey. I don't think that should change."

Jones, a 10-year NHL veteran, was traded to the Blackhawks in 2021. He has seven seasons remaining on his contract, which carries a $9.5-million cap hit and a full no-movement clause.

He led all Blackhawks skaters in average time on ice (24:27) last season and finished fourth on the club with 37 points in 72 games. His underlying numbers were strong, too, despite his minus-38 rating.

The Blackhawks added some veteran leaders this offseason, including Jones' former captain in Columbus, Foligno.

"He's a special guy, a special human," Jones said of Foligno. "He cares so much about the players he plays with, the organization he's on, and the community. Big family guy. He's got beautiful kids and he's just a great guy to have in the locker room. He knows how to lighten the room up a little bit when need be, crack a good dad joke. He's the king of dad jokes. He's just great, a great guy."

But Foligno is 35 and signed a one-year deal. Triple Gold Club member Corey Perry, 38, joined Chicago on a one-year deal as well.

The Blackhawks could also wait it out while eyeing Connor Bedard, 18, as the team's next captain. The 2023 No. 1 pick enters the NHL with a comparable level of hype to Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid as rookies, and they both became captains at age 20.

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Defenseman Noah Hanifin clarified his stance in contract negotiations with the Calgary Flames.

Hanifin said Wednesday that he's open to inking an extension but will wait for the upcoming season to play out, according to TSN's Salim Nadim Valji. The blue-liner added that he told Flames management in the summer he needed time to process the disappointment of Calgary's concluded campaign.

A report in June indicated Hanifin wasn't expected to sign an extension with the Flames, making a trade likely. But Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Wednesday that Hanifin only expressed that he didn't want to re-sign this summer.

Hanifin is entering the final season of the six-year deal signed with Calgary in 2018. The pact carries a cap hit of $4.95 million and contains a clause allowing him to submit an eight-team no-trade list, according to CapFriendly.

The 26-year-old collected seven goals and 31 assists while ranking second on the club in average ice time at a career-high 22:39 across 81 games last season. Hanifin also authored favorable underlying numbers, including a 54.93% expected goals rate at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Hanifin has played the last five campaigns with the Flames, who acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes at the draft in 2018. He spent his first three seasons with the Canes, who selected him fifth overall in 2015.

The Boston-born rearguard is one of many pending unrestricted free agents on the Flames' roster. That list includes forwards Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund and six of Calgary's eight NHL defensemen.

The Flames missed the playoffs last season after winning the Pacific Division title and advancing to the second round in 2021-22.

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