One of many extra outwardly tough negotiations this summer time has been between the Boston Bruins and goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Neither Boston nor Swayman opted to undergo wage arbitration this offseason however the group could have gotten a jolt to their system after the hockey world watched the St. Louis Blues make offer sheets to 2 members of the Edmonton Oilers a number of days in the past.
It doesn’t seem Swayman is fearful in regards to the lack of a contract up up to now with him asserting confidence he’ll stay with the Bruins in an interview on NESN earlier this week.
“There’s quite a lot of confidence. And I say that as a result of I’ve handled it like enterprise as typical this 12 months,” Swayman said. “I’ve been at Warrior, I’ve been figuring out with our guys, our workers, our gamers. And I do know that there’s one thing particular constructing on this locker room this 12 months, and I can’t be extra enthusiastic about that. I do know that it’ll handle itself with time, and all I can do is management how I’m going to be a greater goalie for the Boston Bruins this 12 months. So, that’s all I’m centered on. And I do know, once more, it’s going to work out, and I couldn’t be happier to be a Bruin.”
Cap house received’t be a difficulty for the Bruins with these negotiations as they nonetheless personal roughly $8.6M according to PuckPedia. The one purpose Swayman’s contract would change into a significant concern for the wage cap is that if a staff takes the identical method as St. Louis and indicators Swayman to a suggestion sheet north of their present allotment.
Earlier this week on “32 Thoughts,” Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet argued that Swayman and the Bruins weren’t shut on a brand new contract, and the negotiations have been difficult. The precise purpose for the strife is unknown nevertheless it’s possible as a result of Swayman’s camp doubtlessly overestimating the worth of the younger netminder up up to now.
That’s to not say Swayman hasn’t been an distinctive goaltender up up to now in his profession, however he’s largely shared the web with goaltender Linus Ullmark. As soon as a contract will get completed between the 2 sides, the 2024-25 season might be his first because the undisputed beginning netminder. Since sharing the web with Ullmark within the 2021-22 season, Swayman has solely began in 46.7% of the regular-season video games for Boston.
Due to this, Evolving Hockey initiatives Swayman to land a four-year contract value a mean annual worth of $6.25M. He could land nearer to $7M if the Bruins can get him on a long-term deal. An analogous contract would give Boston loads of cap house so as to add through the season. As a lot as Swayman’s camp could also be arguing for the time being, he merely has not confirmed himself to be in the identical echelon as Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy or Connor Hellebuyck to this point.
