Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Restricted free agent goalie Jeremy Swayman, presently in a contentious contract standoff with Boston, stated he would do “everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time” on the NHL's new Amazon Prime Video docuseries.
Swayman is featured in Episode 3 of “FACEOFF: Inside the NHL,” which chronicles the Boston Bruins' six-game Stanley Cup playoffs loss to the Florida Panthers final season. Swayman makes it clear he'd like to stay with the Bruins, as restricted free company looms.
“I mean, I don't want it to end,” he stated on the present. “[This] could be the last time I wear a Bruins jersey. I know I'm going to do everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time. As a kid growing up in Alaska, this was in my wildest f—ing dreams. I never want it to end. I'm just so grateful that the sun's going to rise tomorrow and there's another opportunity to get better.
“Whatever I can do to assist this group win. I do know every part else will deal with itself.”
The Bruins anointed Swayman, 25, as their primary starting goaltender when they traded tandem-mate Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June. But they were unable to sign Swayman to a new contract. Swayman declined to report to Bruins training camp without a deal.
The relationship between the goalie's camp and the team has grown contentious. The Bruins said on Monday that Joonas Korpisalo, acquired for Ullmark, is the likely starter for their season opener on Oct. 8. At that same news conference, team president Cam Neely said he was surprised by Swayman's asking price.
“I do not need to get into the weeds with what his ask is,” he said, “however I do know that I've 64 million the explanation why I'd be enjoying proper now.”
Swayman's agent, Lewis Gross, claimed the Bruins never offered that sum during their talks and expressed disappointment in the team for discussing their talks in public.
“We are extraordinarily disenchanted. This was not honest to Jeremy,” Gross said.
This isn't the first contentious contract negotiation between Swayman and the Bruins. In 2023, they went to salary arbitration, with Swayman being awarded a one-year, $3.75 million contract. On the Amazon Prime Show, Swayman says that process was difficult for him.
“When you go into that room, you do not say a phrase,” he said. “My arbitrator began first, stated all of those nice issues. The arbitrator on their facet … their job is to assist the administration facet and to rip gamers. Hearing that you just're unfit of what you suppose you are worthy of, that was laborious to hear. You do not forget what was stated.”
The Bruins goalie said he wrote down every criticism he heard during the hearing into a checklist that he would refer to during the season.
“My largest knock was that I wasn't reliable within the playoffs. Check,” said Swayman, motioning a checkmark with his hand.
The goalie had a 6-6 record with a .215 goals-against average and an NHL-best .933 save percentage in the 2024 postseason. But the Bruins lost in the second round to the Panthers, the same team that eliminated them the previous postseason.
“It's disgusting to take into consideration that I'm not going to elevate a Stanley Cup over my head this 12 months. The manner I'll get to do that's to flip the web page and take positives and begin working in direction of subsequent 12 months,” Swayman stated.
