Team president Cam Neely informed media on Monday that the Bruins had extended a $64 million contract offer to RFA goalie Jeremy Swayman (via 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson). Although he did not specify how long the agreement would last, it is reasonable to believe that he meant an eight-year contract with a $8 million cap hit.
Regarding Swayman’s ongoing absence, Neely remarked, “I’d have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.” He continued by saying that Swayman had “flat out” informed the team that he wished to stay in Boston, which is consistent with an earlier Monday story from Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.
Currently, it seems likely that Jeremy Swayman will remain unsigned when the Bruins submit their opening-night roster next week. General manager Don Sweeney indicated that it’s “unlikely” Swayman will be ready for the regular-season opener, while head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed that Joonas Korpisalo is set to start against the Panthers on October 8 after a strong performance in camp (according to The Boston Globe’s Conor Ryan).
At 27, Swayman has expressed his goal this summer to set a standard for future goalie contracts after receiving a one-year, $3.475 million deal through arbitration in 2023. His career statistics are impressive, featuring a .919 save percentage in the regular season and a .922 save percentage in the playoffs, but he has never started more than 45 games in a single season.
Swayman and Linus Ullmark, who was traded to the Senators earlier this summer to give Swayman the clear starting role, have been crucial to the Bruins’ success in recent years. Their significance was particularly noticeable last season, as they combined for a .915 save percentage, helping the Bruins stay competitive in the Atlantic Division despite lacking strong 5-on-5 possession metrics.
Boston will find itself in a difficult situation with Korpisalo if he stays unsigned for a large portion of the season. Although the team is optimistic following a great preseason performance, the 30-year-old is coming off a terrible 2023–24 season with Ottawa, where he recorded a 3.27 GAA and.890 SV% in 50 appearances.
In a competitive Atlantic field, the Bruins’ play over the first two months of the season could have cost them a postseason spot. Swayman can’t play this season unless he signs a contract by December 1st.
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