The Boston Bruins are facing a significant hurdle heading into the 2024-25 season as contract negotiations with their star goaltender Jeremy Swayman have hit a stalemate. According to a recent report from the *Boston Globe*, the Bruins have been unable to reach a contract extension with Swayman, who is now an unrestricted free agent. This development puts the team in a difficult position just as they prepare for training camp, with Swayman potentially missing both the camp and preseason due to the unresolved situation. As of now, it seems that the two sides are far apart in their demands, leaving the Bruins with limited goaltending options.
Swayman has been an integral part of the Bruins’ goaltending duo alongside Linus Ullmark, and his absence would be a substantial blow to the team’s defensive strength. Over his career, Swayman has posted an impressive record of 79 wins, 33 losses, and 15 overtime losses, with a strong 2.34 goals-against average (GAA) and a .919 save percentage. These numbers demonstrate his talent and potential, but despite his solid performance, the Bruins appear hesitant to commit to a long-term deal. One of the reported sticking points in the negotiations is Swayman’s desire for a higher annual average value (AAV) in his contract than the team is willing to offer.
According to rumors circulating in NHL circles, Swayman is reportedly seeking a contract with an AAV in the range of $10 million per season, which would make him one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the league. For comparison, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros recently signed a contract with an AAV of $7.74 million, a number that Swayman’s camp seems to be using as a benchmark. However, the Bruins have reportedly offered Swayman significantly less, with sources like Ryan Whitney from the *Spittin’ Chiclets* podcast suggesting that Boston’s offer is around $6.2 million per season. This substantial gap between the player’s asking price and the team’s offer has led to a prolonged standoff.
Fluto Shinzawa of *The Athletic* has suggested that the current deadlock could extend through the Bruins’ training camp and possibly longer. Shinzawa, speaking on the *Bruins Rinkside* show on September 14, noted that Swayman is known for being confident and sure of his worth, which may explain his reluctance to accept a lower offer. The Bruins now find themselves in a precarious position, with their primary goaltender’s future in limbo. If the two sides do not reach an agreement by December 1, Swayman would be ineligible to play for the entire 2024-25 NHL season, a scenario that the team surely wants to avoid.
In the meantime, the Bruins are expected to rely on newly acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to fill the void left by Swayman. Korpisalo was brought in as part of the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators earlier in the offseason. While Korpisalo has been a serviceable goaltender in the NHL, he is seen more as a backup option rather than a full-time starter. Korpisalo’s career statistics, including a 3.06 GAA and a .904 save percentage, indicate that he may not be capable of filling the significant gap left by Swayman’s potential absence.
The situation is further complicated by reports from insiders like Elliotte Friedman of *Sportsnet*, who speculated on the *32 Thoughts* podcast that Boston might regret how they’ve handled Swayman’s contract negotiations thus far. Friedman suggested that the team’s decision to take Swayman to arbitration earlier in the offseason may have created a rift between the player and the organization. Arbitration can sometimes leave lasting bitterness between players and teams, especially when the team is perceived as undervaluing a player’s contributions. This tension could make it even more difficult for the two sides to come to a mutually beneficial agreement in the near future.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on the Bruins to see if they can resolve their goaltending dilemma. Without Swayman in the fold, the Bruins could face a tough season ahead, with serious goaltending concerns potentially derailing their playoff hopes. The clock is ticking for Boston, and they must act quickly to ensure that their star goaltender doesn’t slip through their fingers before the December 1 deadline.
