The Boston Bruins find themselves in a tense contract dispute with restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman, turning a normally quiet preseason into a high-stakes standoff. The dissension reached a new level of public contention on Monday as Swayman opted not to attend the Bruins' training camp without a renewed contract, despite clear desires from both sides to reach an agreement.
The young goaltender, poised to be the Bruins' primary starter, remains at odds with the team's management over contract terms. Swayman, who forewent arbitration this offseason, is represented by agent Lewis Gross. Gross expressed his disappointment in the team's approach, particularly in revealing contract negotiations publicly. "Normally, I do not release statements or discuss negotiations through the media," Gross remarked in a statement on Instagram. "However, in this case, I feel I need to defend my client. At today's press conference, $64 million was referenced. That was the first time that number was discussed in our negotiations. Prior to the press conference, no offer was made reaching that level."
Meanwhile, Bruins' team president Cam Neely indicated confidence that Swayman wishes to stay with the team. "I don't want to get into the weeds with what his ask is," Neely stated, "but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I'd be playing right now."
A Break from Tradition
Coach Jim Montgomery has already made plans for the season opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 8, with newly acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo set to start. The decision followed the Bruins' trade of Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in the offseason, positioning Swayman as the expected primary goaltender. General manager Don Sweeney faced criticism for not securing Swayman’s new contract before offloading Ullmark.
Sweeney defended the decision, acknowledging the logistical complexity of meeting the demands of two top-tier goalies. "We made a decision to chart a course. Both goaltenders asked to play 55 games. That's not possible if you're playing on the same team," Sweeney said. "We decided to make a decision. We were comfortable going forward with Jeremy. We knew what the likely return would be for Linus."
"I don't regret that decision one bit, in terms of the decision we made to move forward and attack some of the areas we could benefit from in the free agent market," Sweeney asserted.
Negotiation Deadlock
Reports suggest the Bruins offered Swayman an eight-year deal, the maximum allowed by the NHL. However, Swayman's camp is reportedly seeking an average annual value upwards of $9.5 million, challenging negotiations. Such an amount would position Swayman alongside Tampa's Andrei Vasilevskiy for the third-highest cap hit among NHL goaltenders, trailing only Montreal's Carey Price and Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky.
The significance of the $9.5 million ask becomes clearer when considering Swayman's track record. Entering his fifth NHL season, the goaltender boasts a commendable record of 79-33-15, with a .919 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average. Last season, Swayman earned $3.475 million on a one-year contract awarded through arbitration.
The impending Dec. 1 deadline looms over the negotiations, as it determines whether Swayman’s contract will be valid for the upcoming season. Sweeney remains cautiously optimistic about reaching an agreement before the cut-off date. "We expect Jeremy to rejoin the team before Dec. 1," he noted.
Looking Ahead
As the situation continues to unfold, the Bruins must navigate the intricacies of high-stakes contract negotiations, a process further complicated by the need to balance fiscal prudence with athletic excellence. For now, Boston fans watch anxiously, hoping for a resolution that keeps Swayman in goal and the team's defensive prowess intact.
In a sport where stability between the pipes can make or break a season, the Bruins’ front office faces significant pressure. They must not only secure Swayman’s services but also ensure the team remains formidable in a highly competitive league.