Bruins Fail to Sign Jeremy Swayman, Rely on Backup Goalie
The Boston Bruins are entering training camp expected to be without their star goaltender Jeremy Swayman, according to the Boston Globe, after contract negotiations stalled and no agreement for a contract extension was reached between the franchise and the unrestricted free agent. This development has left the Bruins with newly acquired netminder Joonas Korpisalo, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, as the team’s no. 1 option and starter between the pipes.
According to Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic, Swayman may miss camp and the preseason entirely due to the ongoing deadlock in his contract talks with the team. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this goes into camp and he’s not signed, Shinzawa said on September 14 appearing on a Bruins Rinkside show. “I think we’ve come to know Jeremy as someone who is very sure of himself, very confident, very secure in what he’s done and what he can be.” Although conflicting reports have emerged during the past few days regarding what’s being asked by Swayman and what the Bruins are offering him, everything points toward a large gap between both sides still being there.
Swayman has an impressive career record of 79-33-15, with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, but has yet to prove himself as a full-time starter, which is the main reason for Boston’s hesitation about signing him to a long-term deal. Rumors suggest Swayman is seeking a contract with a higher AAV than Juuse Saros’ recent $7.74 million deal, potentially reaching more than $10 million, while the Bruins are rumored to have “lowballed” him with an offer around $6.2 million per season, according to Spittin’ Chiclet’s Ryan Whitney. While Swayman holds out, Korpisalo, who was acquired in the Linus Ullmark trade to the Senators as insurance, will take over the No. 1 goalie role for the Bruins as training camp begins.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculated on the September 13 episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast that Boston may regret the way they’ve handled Swayman’s contract negotiations, particularly their arbitration decisions, which might have created lasting tension between the player and the team. If the Bruins and Swayman don’t come to terms soon, the team could face more serious goaltending concerns: the goalie must sign his contract by December 1. Otherwise, he will be ineligible to play throughout the 2024-25 season.
The New England Patriots surprised many with their season-opening win and will try to follow it up in their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
NESN’s George Balekji highlighted three things to watch in the Week 2 game:
Can the Patriots hold up at left tackle?
It would behoove New England to hold up against the Seattle pass rush, especially at left tackle after the bizarre departure of Chukwuma Okorafor. Okorafor on Saturday was placed on the exempt/left squad list and it’s been reported he’s mulling his future.
Stick to the run game
Rhamondre Stevenson was a key factor in the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Bengals, and if New England is able to rely on the run game while featuring the play-action game, that would go a long way against Mike Macdonald’s defense.
