In the world of hockey, the status of goaltender Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins as an unsigned restricted free agent is a hot topic. However, despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract, Swayman himself remains optimistic that a deal will be reached sooner rather than later.
“After a season of trading starts with Linus Ullmark and eventually taking over as the playoff starter, I feel confident in my abilities and my place as the Bruins’ starting goaltender this upcoming season,” Swayman shared with NESN. “I’ve been putting in the work at the team’s training facility, surrounded by our staff and players, and there’s a special camaraderie building in our locker room. I’m truly excited about what’s to come.”
The Bruins made a significant move earlier in the summer, trading Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators and acquiring Joonas Korpisalo to serve as Swayman’s backup. This solidifies Swayman’s role as the main man between the pipes for the team going forward.
Looking back at his performance last season, Swayman had an impressive 43-25-10 record in the regular season with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. In the playoffs, he posted a 6-6 record with a 2.15 GAA and a .933 save percentage. These numbers speak to his skill and reliability as a goaltender, making him a valuable asset to the Bruins.
Despite going through arbitration last summer and signing a one-year contract, Swayman and the Bruins opted not to pursue arbitration this year. General manager Don Sweeney has made it clear that extending Swayman’s contract is a top priority for the team this offseason, noting that the young goaltender is a crucial piece of both their present and future success.
With more than $8.6 million in cap space available and only Swayman left to sign among their restricted free agents, the Bruins have the financial flexibility to secure Swayman’s services for the upcoming season. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, Swayman has a solid career record of 79-33-15 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.34 GAA, further underscoring his value to the team.
As negotiations continue behind the scenes, fans eagerly await news of Swayman’s contract extension with bated breath, hopeful that the young goaltender will be back between the pipes for the Bruins in the upcoming season.
