The Toronto Maple Leafs are well-positioned to sign Jeremy Swayman after the Bruins opted not to pursue arbitration this summer. This situation presents an excellent opportunity for the Leafs to secure the number-one goalie they desperately need.
While the signing of Anthony Stolarz has bolstered the Leafs’ goalie lineup, it remains insufficient. With Auston Matthews entering his prime, pairing Stolarz with the injury-prone and inexperienced Joseph Woll poses a significant risk for the Leafs. Although this might be the expected goalie combination at the start of the new season, it doesn’t have to remain so.
The Boston Bruins and restricted free agent goalie Jeremy Swayman mutually agreed to waive arbitration this summer. According to the Boston Herald, both parties wanted to avoid last year’s arbitration complications. While this likely indicates that the Bruins and Swayman are close to finalizing a new deal, it also raises questions about Swayman’s desire to stay in Boston.
The Bruins have shown strong confidence in Swayman, trading Linus Ullmark to make him their number-one goalie. They wouldn’t have traded Ullmark if they weren’t confident that Swayman would re-sign. However, there’s a twist. By not filing for arbitration, Swayman is now eligible for an offer sheet, which is where the Toronto Maple Leafs might seize the opportunity to acquire the goalie they urgently need.
The Cost for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Offer Sheet Jeremy Swayman
Extending an offer sheet to Jeremy Swayman could be costly in terms of both dollars and compensation.
The Boston Herald recently compared Swayman’s potential new deal to the one Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators signed, which was an eight-year agreement worth $7.74 million AAV. This suggests Swayman might be looking for a deal around $7 million per season. To stay under the cap, the Leafs would need to trade some contracts.
According to CapFriendly, the Leafs are currently over the cap. Therefore, they couldn’t accommodate Swayman’s new contract without making some trades. However, trading contracts to acquire a number-one goaltender like Swayman could be worth it.
The other consideration is compensation. Under league rules, teams that extend an offer sheet must provide compensation if the player signs. The amount depends on the contract’s financial value. If the Leafs offer Swayman $7 million, they would fall into the fifth bracket, requiring them to give up a first-, second-, and third-round pick.
This seems like a reasonable price for a high-caliber, game-changing goalie. However, if the Leafs offer Swayman less than $6.435 million per season, the compensation drops to a first-round and a third-round pick, which is more favorable.
Considering the Maple Leafs’ need to be a top team during Auston Matthews’ peak years, extending an offer sheet to Jeremy Swayman is worth contemplating. The Leafs could outbid the Bruins and sign Swayman for seven seasons. Although fitting a large contract under the cap would be challenging, the Leafs could manage it, significantly boosting their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
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