The Bruins’ offseason acquisition of Jeremy Swayman and his contract extension are major plot points. Don Sweeney, the general manager, has stated on multiple occasions this offseason that locking up the goalkeeper is a top priority. Swayman expressed confidence that something will be completed this summer.
When Swayman and the Bruins decided against going to arbitration over the weekend, some clarity was added to the situation. Speaking up about the experience he had the previous season, Swayman declared he never wanted to go through it again.
When a player and the team cannot agree on a contract, arbitration is used. Swayman and the Bruins reportedly differed by $2.8 million during the previous campaign; Boston gave Swayman $2 million, while the goalkeeper asked for $4.8 million before receiving $3.475 million for the 2023–24 NHL season.
With arbitration formally eliminated for the summer, the Bruins and Swayman’s team can now proceed with negotiations for a new deal. Being a restricted free agent, Swayman is open to contract offers from other teams, but Boston has the right to match any that the 25-year-old receives.
Last season, Swayman became Boston’s starting goalie of choice. Swayman played every game of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup Playoffs run, which ended in the second round, despite sharing playing time with Linus Ullmark. The 25-year-old grabbed games to keep the Bruins alive and provided his team an opportunity to win every night.
In June, the Bruins sent Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, so reaffirming their desire for Swayman to be the starting goalkeeper for the team. Joonas Korpisalo, who was acquired by Boston in the Ullmark trade, and prospect Brandon Bussi will face competition for Swayman’s backup position, according to Sweeney.
On the first day of NHL free agency, Boston was active and added a few players to bolster its lineup, including Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm. The Bruins still have $8,636,666 in cap space, according to CapFriendly, which should be sufficient to sign Swayman to a contract that will keep him in Boston for the foreseeable future, even though the two have inked long-term, lucrative deals.
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