"64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now" - Cam Neely drops major hint on Jeremy Swayman's Bruins contract hold-up
Boston Bruins president Cam Neely just dropped a major insight into the negotiations between the team and star goalie Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins have been unable to sign him to a long-term extension, making their future in goal a little more murky than they would like.
"Well, I don't want to get into the weeds with what his ask is, but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I'd be playing right now," Neely said.
The Bruins have been negotiating with their star player for a very long time, and they've been unable to meet deadlines. Initially, the team wanted to get this done before the season began. Now, they've shifted to potentially signing before December 1.
In Neely's own words, it seems as if they've offered Swayman a $64 million contract. He didn't reveal the AAV, but that seems to be the salary that was offered and most likely rejected. If Swayman had liked that deal, they would have taken it.
It is unclear how Swayman, who hasn't commented publicly on this, feels or how this comment from the president of the Bruins will impact the discussions moving forward. The regular season begins on October 8, and Swayman has yet to come back to the team.
Cam Neely claims Jeremy Swayman wants to stay
However disgruntled Cam Neely seems with the state of the negotiations between his NHL team and star goalie Jeremy Swayman, one report suggests that there's reason for him to be confident.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Boston Bruins president has said that Swayman has conveyed to Neely that he'd like to stay with the team. How that will come about remains to be seen, but there's evidently mutual interest in that.
The Bruins traded Linus Ullmark away, so Swayman is their future in goal. Before he reaches free agency, they are trying to lock him down to ensure they didn't make a mistake in who they chose to prioritize in the net.