The Boston Bruins are set to enter training camp without their standout goaltender, Jeremy Swayman, following stalled contract negotiations, as reported by the Boston Globe. The impasse has prevented a contract extension for Swayman, who is currently an unrestricted free agent. This situation leaves the Bruins with Joonas Korpisalo, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, as their primary goaltender for the upcoming season.
According to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, there is a real possibility that Swayman may miss both training camp and the preseason due to the ongoing contract disputes. “It wouldn’t surprise me if this drags into camp and he remains unsigned,” Shinzawa noted on September 14 during a Bruins Rinkside show. “Jeremy is known for his confidence and self-assurance, and he’s certainly secure in his abilities and achievements.”
Recent reports have highlighted a significant gap between Swayman’s contract demands and the Bruins’ offers. Swayman, who boasts a career record of 79-33-15 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, has yet to establish himself as a full-time starter. This uncertainty is one of the key reasons behind Boston’s reluctance to commit to a long-term deal.
Rumors indicate that Swayman is seeking a contract with an average annual value (AAV) exceeding Juuse Saros’ recent $7.74 million deal, potentially surpassing $10 million. In contrast, the Bruins are reportedly offering around $6.2 million per season, a figure that some, including Spittin’ Chiclet’s Ryan Whitney, consider a “lowball” offer.
As Swayman remains unsigned, Korpisalo, acquired from the Senators in the trade involving Linus Ullmark, will step up as the Bruins’ No. 1 goalie as training camp commences. On September 13, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculated on the 32 Thoughts podcast that Boston might come to regret their handling of Swayman’s contract negotiations, especially given the contentious nature of recent arbitration decisions.
If a resolution is not reached soon, the Bruins could face serious goaltending issues. Swayman must sign his contract by December 1, or he will be ineligible to play during the 2024-25 season.
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