Before the trade deadline of March 8, Don Sweeney and the other thirty-one NHL general managers will be hard at work this week seeking to bolster or deplete their respective rosters.
However, based on a report by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Sweeney is already attempting to close the gap on one of Boston’s most important offseason assignments.
The Bruins and goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman, who is currently under contract for one season, have reportedly “begun discussing an extension,” according to Friedman. It is now anticipated that the 25-year-old goalkeeper will become a restricted free agent in July.
All parties would benefit greatly from a long-term contract for Swayman following the Bruins and their goalie’s tumultuous arbitration hearing during the previous winter.
Last summer, Swayman and Boston had very different salaries. Multiple accounts state that Swayman and his team replied with $4.8 million, while the Bruins came in at $2 million for their estimated compensation.
In the end, the arbitrator’s $3.475 million salary struck a compromise between the two parties, which is a sizable increase above Swayman’s prior AAV of $1.05 million. Swayman, though, has been open about the arbitration procedure and how much he hopes to steer clear of another contentious contract issue in the future.
Following his first-ever All-Star selection in January, Swayman remarked, “Yeah, after dealing with what I did this summer with arbitration, hearing things that a player should never hear, it feels pretty special to be in this situation.”
It makes sense for the Bruins to sign Swayman to a long-term contract in order to proceed.
The composed goalie not only completes Boston’s most significant off-season assignment (and provides additional clarity on how much cap room Sweeney can use this summer), but he also has all the makings of an NHL top-goalt goalie.
Swayman has a record of 19-6-8 so far this season, including three shutouts, a 2.53 goals-against average, and a.919 save percentage. Swayman is fourth in the NHL among goalies with at least 1,000 minutes of ice time this season in terms of goals saved above average (16.03).
Over the past few seasons, Swayman’s development and his collaboration with fellow goalie Linus Ullmark have been the cornerstones of Boston’s success.
However, Swayman’s long-term contract, along with a substantial salary increase, might greatly improve Boston’s roster in the future.
Even while Swayman and Ullmark now have a combined cap hit of $8.475 million, the Bruins might decide not to have both goalies on staff if that salary hit rises to, say, $11–12 million in the upcoming season if Swayman signs a new contract.
Because of this, the Bruins may decide to trade Ullmark (who is signed through 2025) in order to acquire assets, clear cap space, and allow Swayman to become Boston’s unchallenged top goalkeeper for the next five or more years.
Friedman conceded that a longer Swayman contract might open the door to a more significant Ullmark trade, either in the winter or prior to the deadline.
“Boston’s in a position to deliver if someone craves a netminder now,” Friedman wrote. But there are two problems with this. The Bruins currently have the best chance to win thanks to the Swayman/Ullmark combination, and Ullmark also has some control over this.
“He is entitled to block if it involves a team he can refuse to play for. The outcome of this is difficult to anticipate, but it might involve a significant deal in hockey or something as straightforward as more depth for the postseason.