"He wants to be Hellebuyck and up": NHL insider provides update on Jeremy Swayman's Bruins extension stalemate

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 18, 2024 04:14 GMT

The Boston Bruins will start their training camp on Sept. 18 (Wednesday), but the situation surrounding goaltender Jeremy Swayman is unresolved as he remains unsigned.

NHL Insider David Pagnotta of "The Fourth Period" provided insights on the ongoing negotiations during a segment on NHL Network. He said the discussions between Swayman and the Bruins are continuing and occur regularly.

However, Pagnotta noted that there appears to be a significant gap in terms of financial expectations. While there has been some progress, much hinges on the length of the contract.

The insider indicated that the longer the term, the higher the average annual value (AAV) is likely to be:

"Well, they're still having conversations on a pretty regular basis. It certainly seemed like there was a huge gap with respect to the dollars. I don't know if it's... I think they've made a little bit of headway, at least in an understanding of the frame of where this is going to end up, but a lot of it still depends on term. The more term he gets, the higher the AAV is going to be," said Pagnotta.

Jeremy Swayman is reportedly aiming for a contract that places him among the top-tier goalies in the NHL, specifically wanting to be in the same financial range as Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck and other elite netminders.

"He wants to be Hellebuyck and up, ehe wants to be well over that range. So, you know, they went into the nines, plus they went into the sixes, and you've got to still find a way to kind of bridge that. They've got to get there," he added.

Pagnotta mentioned that discussions had explored figures in the nine and six-million-dollar range, highlighting the challenge both sides face in bridging the gap to reach a satisfactory agreement. How things unfold as the Bruins approach training camp remains to be seen.

Jeremy Swayman wants to stay long-term with Bruins

The 25-year-old goalie's contract negotiations have stalled, raising concerns for the team, especially in light of the recent trade of Linus Ullmark, which has left the team with limited options between the sticks.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman is coming off an impressive playoff performance last season, solidifying his status as a crucial player for the Bruins' future. However, the ongoing uncertainty regarding his contract has left fans anxious about the team's prospects for the upcoming season.