Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto has been suspended 41 games by the NHL for ``activities relating to sports wagering,'' the league announced Thursday.
The NHL said in a statement it found no evidence Pinto made any wagers on its games. The league added it ``considers this matter closed, absent the emergence of new information.''
The 22-year-old Pinto is an unsigned restricted free agent and has yet to play this season because of a contract impasse with the team.
Gambling is only mentioned once in the NHL's collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players' Association, ``Gambling on any NHL Game is prohibited.''
The document also empowers commissioner Gary Bettman to discipline players for off-ice conduct.
Selected by Ottawa in the second round of the 2019 draft, Pinto had 20 goals and 35 points in his first full NHL campaign in 2023-24.