With the season opener less than a week away, the Bruins and restricted free agent goalie Jeremy Swayman have yet to agree on a new contract, but the 25-year-old said he wants to remain in Boston for the long haul.
“I mean, I don’t want it to end,” Swayman said during an episode of the NHL’s new Amazon Prime Video docuseries, “FACEOFF: Inside the NHL.”
“(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.”
Still, Swayman, 25, is not in camp with the Bruins with five days until the team’s opener against the Florida Panthers.
Swayman was expected to be Boston’s No. 1 goaltender following the June trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. Now, with Swayman a holdout, veteran Joonas Korpisalo appears targeted for the job with prospect Brandon Bussi as his backup.
The team and Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, have differing views as to the status of negotiations.
Bruins president Cam Neely, speaking to reporters on Monday, implied the goalie had been offered a $64 million deal. Gross later posted on Instagram a statement denying that number.
Swayman played last year on a one-year, $3.475 million contract awarded by an independent arbitrator. He is the only RFA in the NHL who remains unsigned.
Swayman has a 79-33-15 record, a .919 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average in parts of four seasons with Boston. He and Ullmark shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2022-23 after they combined to give Boston the fewest goals in the NHL.
He was 6-6 in 12 playoff starts last season with a .933 save percentage and 2.15 GAA.
–Field Level Media