No rush

I think you play Greig at 3C - he's looked best at C through preseason.

Smejkal has looked best playing LW.

I think the solution might be that Joseph is in the minors and they're running 20 skaters to bank a bit of salary cap - you're right, if it takes a month of the season to bank enough space to sign Pinto to a 2.1 AAV - he'll still only be getting $1.8M-ish. It would make sense for him to sign around that number now.

Damn Ottawa is strapped for cash

Not how that works. He's still paid the same amount just over a lower period of time which bumps up his cap hit.

Here's a good AGM breaking down how signing RFAs late works and how it impacts Pinto:

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4604680

Depends. For a 1 year contract as GM I would absolutely be running it as pro-rated. And there's no way either side should be looking at anything other than a 1 year.

No spares...