Jan 20, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (43) celebrates with his teammates after a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract as the Boston Bruins’ training camp approaches on September 18.
The 25-year-old goaltender, who solidified his position as the franchise’s No. 1 during the playoffs after Linus Ullmark’s trade to the Ottawa Senators, opted not to pursue binding salary arbitration this year.
Last season, arbitration awarded him a one-year deal worth $3.475 million. As a restricted free agent, Swayman has until December 1 to reach an agreement or risk being ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.
Big time save from Jeremy Swayman on this shot.
— Beyond the Monster (@BeyondtheMnstr) May 5, 2024
The Bruins currently have $8.6 million in cap space, and Swayman’s new contract is expected to consume most of that surplus.
Speculation suggests that a long-term deal could carry an average annual value (AAV) of around $8 to $9 million, potentially requiring the Bruins to make cost-cutting moves or place a player on long-term injured reserve to stay cap-compliant.
This situation is reminiscent of William Nylander’s holdout with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, which lasted until the final hour of the December 1 deadline and affected his performance that season, as noted by Kevin Dupont of the Boston Globe.
Jeremy Swayman with a terrific save less than a minute into Game 1 😱 pic.twitter.com/CY95ae4gli
— ESPN (@espn) May 7, 2024
While the December 1 deadline is the ultimate pressure point, it is expected that both sides will aim to finalize the contract well before then.
A resolution could come as early as early September, with the possibility of Swayman signing a seven-year deal worth approximately $8 million annually.
The longer Swayman remains unsigned, the more speculation will arise regarding his future with the Bruins.
