In a surprising turn of events, the Boston Bruins are currently in a contract dispute with restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman. The 24-year-old goaltender, who is expected to be the Bruins’ primary starter this season, did not attend the team’s training camp as negotiations on a new contract remain stalled.
The Contract Dispute
Swayman's absence from training camp has raised eyebrows, especially after he forewent arbitration this offseason. The Bruins have offered him an eight-year deal. However, Swayman’s camp, led by agent Lewis Gross, is seeking an average annual value upwards of $9.5 million. This figure is a significant leap from the one-year, $3.475 million contract he earned last season through arbitration.
Gross has been vocal about the state of negotiations. "Normally, I do not release statements or discuss negotiations through the media," he said. "However, in this case, I feel I need to defend my client. At today's press conference, $64 million was referenced. That was the first time that number was discussed in our negotiations. Prior to the press conference, no offer was made reaching that level."
Leadership's Perspective
Bruins' management, particularly General Manager Don Sweeney and President Cam Neely, have faced criticism for not securing Swayman’s new contract before trading Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators during the offseason. The trade has only amplified the urgency and scrutiny surrounding Swayman's contract situation.
Neely, while not delving deeply into the specifics of the negotiations, remarked, "I don't want to get into the weeds with what his ask is, but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I'd be playing right now."
Sweeney defended the decision to trade Ullmark, explaining that both goaltenders had expressed a desire to play 55 games each, a scenario that Sweeney deemed unfeasible with both players on the same team. "We made a decision to chart a course. Both goaltenders asked to play 55 games. That's not possible if you're playing on the same team. We decided to make a decision. We were comfortable going forward with Jeremy. We knew what the likely return would be for Linus," Sweeney said.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Sweeney remains optimistic about Swayman’s return. "We expect Jeremy to rejoin the team before Dec. 1," he stated.
Looking at the Season Ahead
As the Bruins gear up for the new season, they have slated Joonas Korpisalo to start in the season opener against the Florida Panthers on October 8. Korpisalo’s role becomes even more crucial given Swayman's current absence.
The Dec. 1 deadline looms large, as it will ultimately determine whether Swayman’s contract will be valid for the upcoming season. The pressure is on for both sides to come to an agreement, lest the Bruins find themselves without their expected starting goaltender for a significant part of the season.
Sweeney remains confident in the decision to move on from Ullmark and enter the season with Korpisalo stepping up as the starter. He noted, "I don't regret that decision one bit, in terms of the decision we made to move forward and attack some of the areas we could benefit from in the free agent market."
The Bruins’ management, fans, and the broader hockey community will undoubtedly be watching closely as the negotiations with Swayman continue. The outcome will not only affect the Bruins' goaltending stability but could have broader implications for the team’s performance this season.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the unfolding negotiations and the potential resolution that could see Jeremy Swayman back in the crease, defending the Bruins' net. Until then, the speculation and anticipation continue to build, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in the Bruins’ 2023-2024 season.