"Keep these negotiations private": P.K. Subban claims Boston Bruins are flexing 'Original Six' muscles to make Jeremy Swayman take a pay cut

By ARJUN B

Modified Oct 03, 2024 03:13 GMT

Former NHL star turned analyst P.K. Subban weighed in on the contract negotiations between goaltender Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins.

Subban urged everyone not to talk about the specific contract numbers being floated in the media, arguing that no one actually knows the details of what has been offered or requested.

"Everyone's gotta shut up when it comes to the Jeremy Swayman negotiation," Subban said. "For everybody that's talking numbers shut up, you don't know what you're talking about, none of these numbers are legit, no one can stand by them, no one knows how much money's been offered."

Subban accused Bruins president Cam Neely of improperly disclosing that the team offered Swayman $64 million, calling it a "leverage ploy" to swing public opinion to the Bruins' side and put pressure on the young goaltender.

He argued that the Bruins gave up leverage when they traded away Linus Ullmark, and that Swayman has every right to negotiate for his market value as a restricted free agent under the CBA.

"Keep these negotiations private," Subban urged. "This a original six franchise that flexing its muscles on a player that's deserving. Everybody got to take a pay cut to do that and Jeremy Swayman is well in his rights to figure out what his true value is and go after it and get it."

Subban also called on Bruins captain Brad Marchand to "settle the waters."

Elliotte Friedman on Jeremy Swayman's future with the Boston Bruins

Boston President Cam Neely said the team proposed a $64 million contract on Monday; however Swayman's agent contradicted this claim by mentioning that no official offer was put forward by the team at all.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted goaltender Jeremy Swayman wants to stay with the Boston Bruins but is seeking a certain contract value that the team has so far been unwilling to meet. This has led to an impasse in negotiations between the two sides.

"During this pause, he must ask himself, 'Can I move past the bitterness of this negotiation?' If the answer is yes, he can be a Bruin. An excellent one. If the answer is no, he will flourish somewhere else," Friedman said via Sportsnet.

For now, Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start in net for the Boston Bruins' season opener against the Florida Panthers, announced Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

Last season, Korpisalo played a career-high 55 games with the Ottawa Senators. He holds a 21-26-4 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .890 save percentage.