By this time next week, could the Boston Bruins be announcing something significant with goalie Jeremy Swayman?
Players with expiring contracts may start signing contract extensions with their current teams on January 1st, in accordance with the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement. One of those players is Jeremy Swayman, who this past August was awarded a $3.47 million, one-year contract in arbitration. The 25-year-old goalie, who has a 10-2-4 record, a 2.17 GAA, and a.929 save percentage, is a strong contender for the Vezina Trophy.
Co-host and Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman made some wild speculations about a potential Swayman contract extension on the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast.
Some free agents are able to sign on the first, as noted by Friedman. “Players can sign one-year contracts, and I believe some intriguing ones will result from this. I’m quite interested to find out. Jeremy Swayman is one example. Regarding that one, I’ve been a little curious. Shane Pinto is back in Ottawa, so I think he will sign this year even though he hasn’t signed yet. After that, they’ll figure that one out. However, I’m quite interested in where some of these one-year men will wind up and whether their contracts will be extended.
As I previously stated, I had assumed that Tyler Bertuzzi was a player with whom Toronto had discussed a long-term contract, but at this point, I don’t anticipate anything along those lines. Swayman is one of the folks I’m really keeping an eye on.
Friedman has predicted that the Boston Bruins and Swayman will reach an agreement on a contract extension before the goalkeeper can once more become a restricted free agent eligible for arbitration on July 1. On November 13, he had this to say on “The Jeff Marek Show”:
Swayman made it abundantly evident during and after the arbitration process in August of last year that he intended to play for the Boston Bruins beyond this season.
Swayman said, “It wasn’t a process I wanted to go through,” following his arbitration payout. Nevertheless, I recognize that it’s business, and in the end, I’m happy I went through it because I have a lot to be thankful for. Living day to day and realizing that information you receive may not always be accurate—after all, this is a business—are, in my opinion, the most important things. I wanted to make sure that, at the end of the day, I was doing everything in my power to be a Boston Bruin and that, no matter what was thrown at me, I would be able to attack with a positive outlook.
I’m a Boston Bruin now, and I couldn’t be happier with that. I am aware of the process, therefore there is no animosity toward it. It’s not unique to me as a player. I’m not the last person. But going forward, I most certainly don’t want any of my friends or teammates to experience that, and I also don’t want to do it ever again. I’m really happy I went through that. I’m relieved I finished it. At the end of the day, I am a Boston Bruin.