Jeremy Swayman has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL in recent years. The Bruins solidified his position as their primary goalie by trading Linus Ullmark to Ottawa earlier this summer, effectively handing Swayman the #1 spot in Boston.
The challenge, however, is that Swayman is still unsigned for the upcoming season, and the Bruins may be forced to prioritize securing his contract.
Dan Rosen of NHL.com recently suggested that Swayman could command as much as $9 million per season for his next deal.
Here’s the dilemma: The Bruins currently have $8,573,334 in cap space, and Swayman is the only player left to sign for the next season.
If Swayman agrees to a deal under $8.5 million per year, there won’t be an issue. But if he demands a contract that reflects his market value, Don Sweeney, the Bruins’ GM, will need to get creative to make it work.
Swayman has every reason to convince the Bruins to place their trust in him. At 25 years old, his performance last season speaks volumes, particularly in the playoffs:
– Regular season: 25-10-8 record, 2.53 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage
– Playoffs: 6-5-1 record, 2.15 goals-against average, and a .933 save percentage
Now, the question is whether Don Sweeney is ready to offer Swayman a substantial annual salary. With many productive years ahead of him, locking Swayman into a long-term deal seems logical, especially since David Pastrnak is already secured with the team until the end of the 2030-2031 season.
