The growing contract dispute between the Boston Bruins and Jeremy Swayman, their restricted free agent, has reached a boiling point recently. Swayman’s agent strongly denied the Bruins’ published offer, adding a new twist to the saga.
Not showing up to Bruins Training Camp
Swayman, 25 years old, has decided not to attend the Bruins’ training camp until a new contract is in place. The team’s coach, Jim Montgomery, subsequently announced that Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start the season for the Bruins as their starting goalie in their first game against the Florida Panthers on October 8.
Contract Negotiations Become Public
At a preseason press conference in Boston, Cam Neely, the team’s president, expressed his belief that Swayman is committed to continuing to play for the Bruins. However, he complained that the contract has not been finalized. In a surprising twist, Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, challenged the contract figures published by the Bruins while expressing dismay at the public discussion of the figures.
Gross Protects the Client
Normally avoiding media interviews, Gross felt compelled to defend his client in this instance. He denied the alleged $64 million, saying that this figure was never discussed in their discussions. He expressed his disappointment and said that this discussion program was not fair to Swayman. The agent indicated that they would need a few days to decide on their next course of action.
Bruins Remain Silent on Gross’ Claims
When contacted by ESPN’s Kristen Shilton, the Bruins chose not to comment on Gross’ allegations. On the other hand, Neely expressed surprise at Swayman’s demands, suspecting that Swayman hopes to redefine the goaltending market with his contract.
Swayman’s Expected Role
Swayman is expected to be the starting goaltender for the Bruins following the trade of Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. The pair were the NHL’s top duo over the past three seasons, helping the Bruins maintain a low goals-against average (2.49) during that span.
Criticism of Bruins Management
Bruins general manager Sweeney has been criticized for not getting Swayman’s contract out before trading for Ullmark, which upset the team’s negotiating position. However, he defended the decisions, saying that trade negotiations and contracts are not related.
Swayman’s Career and Future
Entering his fifth NHL season, Swayman boasts a 79-33-15 record, a .919 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average. His last contract, which was cleared by arbitration, was a one-year deal worth $3.475 million. The news comes amid reports that the Bruins have offered Swayman an eight-year contract, the longest length allowed by the NHL. Reports also indicate that Swayman’s camp is seeking an average annual salary of more than $9.5 million for his next contract. Sweeney still hopes that Swayman will rejoin the team before the December 1 deadline, which is required for the contract to run this season.
