Bruins’ Goalie Standoff: Key Dates and Rising Tension as Season Approaches

Middle to Late Training Camp — This is when the real standoff begins. Both sides will feel the pressure building. How long will it take before either side gets restless? Are the Bruins truly prepared to begin the season with Joonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi as their goaltenders? Is Jeremy Swayman ready to risk starting the season without a deal in place?

For Swayman to be fully prepared for the start of the season, there’s an unofficial, unspoken deadline during camp — a point by which he’d need to join the team to ensure he’s ready for the regular season.

October 8 — The Bruins kick off their season on October 8 against the Florida Panthers. If they take on Florida that night — when the Panthers will be raising their Stanley Cup banner — without Swayman, it’s likely many who have been overlooking this contract dispute will start to take notice.

Mid-November — How important is it to Swayman to represent Team USA in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off? While it’s not the Olympics, it’s still a significant honor. The rosters for the four-team event will be announced in late November, but selections will be made earlier.