A New Chapter for Boston Bruins as Jeremy Swayman Returns

In an unexpected turn of events, the Boston Bruins ended the ongoing contract stalemate by securing their premier goaltender, Jeremy Swayman, on an eight-year contract. This deal, worth a whopping $66 million, not only brings their main goalie back into the fold but also averts a looming crisis as the regular season kick-off approaches.

From Contract Standoff to Record-Breaking Deal

As a restricted free agent, Swayman missed the entirety of the training camp. This created a potential catastrophe for the Bruins who, only last year, had the exceptional duo of Swayman and 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark sharing the net.

After a stellar 2022-23 season as Ullmark’s understudy, Swayman failed to secure a long-term contract in the summer of 2023. This resulted in a $3.475 million arbitration-awarded deal, a process Swayman vowed never to repeat.

Now, with an average annual value of $8.25 million, Swayman matches Ilya Sorokin for the fourth-highest AAV for a goaltender, trailing only Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Connor Hellebuyck.

Swayman’s Message to the Fans

In a heartfelt video shared by the Bruins on social media, Swayman expressed his excitement to return. He thanked fans for their unwavering support throughout the contract negotiations and looked forward to a fresh start.

Bruins Avoid Season Derailment

The successful conclusion of the negotiations dodges a potential holdout that could have thrown the season off track for the six-time century-point scorers. Despite their impressive regular-season performances, the Bruins have not advanced beyond the second round of playoffs since 2019.

Backroom Drama and Future Plans

While securing Swayman was a top priority for General Manager Don Sweeney, the timing of Ullmark’s trade before finalizing Swayman’s contract seemingly gave the Alaska-born player the upper hand during negotiations.

When training camp commenced without Swayman, the Bruins relied on Joonas Korpisalo, acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the Ullmark trade, and Brandon Bussi, who had an impressive stint with Providence of the AHL last season. The Bruins’ Coach, Jim Montgomery, compared Swayman’s absence to dealing with an injury, stating it was a case of “next man up”.

Despite the conclusion of Swayman’s deal, Sweeney confirmed that Korpisalo would start the regular-season opener against the Panthers, sticking with the initial plan. The Bruins also received a 2024 first-round draft pick, which they used to secure center Dean Letourneau, and forward Mark Kastelic in the Ullmark trade.

The Future Looks Bright for the Bruins

With Swayman back in the fold, the Boston Bruins are poised for a strong season. The successful resolution of the contract standoff marks a new era for the team and its supporters.