The Boston Bruins are set to begin training camp without their standout goaltender Jeremy Swayman, as contract talks have stalled and no extension has been agreed upon, reports the Boston Globe.
With Swayman, a restricted free agent, not yet signed, the Bruins will rely on Joonas Korpisalo, recently acquired from the Ottawa Senators, as their primary goaltender.
Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa from The Athletic notes that Swayman might miss both camp and the preseason due to the ongoing contract dispute.
On September 14, Shinzawa suggested on the Bruins Rinkside show, “It wouldn’t be surprising if this drags into camp without a deal. Jeremy is known for his confidence and assurance in his abilities.”
Despite varying reports about Swayman’s demands and the Bruins’ offers, it appears there is still a significant gap between the two sides. Swayman, who boasts a strong career record of 79-33-15, with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, has yet to solidify himself as a full-time starter, which has made the Bruins hesitant to commit to a long-term contract.
Rumors suggest Swayman is seeking a deal exceeding Juuse Saros’ recent $7.74 million AAV, possibly over $10 million, while the Bruins are reportedly offering around $6.2 million per season, as noted by Spittin’ Chiclets’ Ryan Whitney.
As Swayman holds out, Korpisalo will assume the No. 1 goalie position for the Bruins as camp commences. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, on the September 13 episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, speculated that the Bruins might regret their approach to Swayman’s contract negotiations and arbitration decisions, which could have created lasting friction between the player and the team.
If a deal isn’t reached soon, the Bruins could face more serious goaltending issues, as Swayman must sign his contract by December 1 to avoid being ineligible for the entire 2024-25 season.
