A long-term deal for Swayman could jeopardize Linus Ullmark’s future with Boston.
Don Sweeney and the other 31 NHL general managers will be busy this week seeking to acquire or subtract players from their teams before the March 8 trade deadline.
But, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Sweeney is already working to close the gap on one of Boston’s most pressing offseason jobs.
According to Friedman, the Bruins have “begun discussing an extension” with goalie Jeremy Swayman, who is currently on a one-year contract. The 25-year-old goalkeeper is slated to enter restricted free agency in July.
A long-term contract for Swayman would be a much-needed relief for all parties after the Bruins and their goalie faced a bitter arbitration battle last offseason.
Last summer, Swayman and Boston had very different salaries. According to various reports, the Bruins came in at $2 million for their estimated salary, while Swayman and his team countered with $4.8 million.
The arbitrator ultimately met both sides in the middle with the $3.475 million salary, which represents a big increase over Swayman’s previous AAV of $1.05 million. However, Swayman has been open about the arbitration procedure and his desire to avoid another contentious contract issue in the future.
“Yeah, after dealing with what I did this summer with arbitration, hearing things that a player should never hear, it feels pretty special to be in this situation,” Swayman said in January, following his first All-Star selection.
Signing Swayman to a long-term contract is a sensible step forward for the Bruins.
Not only does it complete Boston’s most critical offseason assignment (and provides more clarity on how much salary space Sweeney can operate with this summer), but the poised goaltender has all the makings of an established No. 1 netminder in the NHL.
Swayman’s record this season is 19-6-8 with a.919 save %, 2.53 goals-against average, and three shutouts. Swayman ranks fourth in goals saved above average (16.03) among NHL goaltenders who have played at least 1,000 minutes this season.
Swayman’s continuing development and cooperation with teammate goalie Linus Ullmark have been the foundation of Boston’s success in recent seasons.
However, a long-term contract for Swayman — and, more crucially, a substantial pay raise — may significantly improve Boston’s squad going ahead.
While both Swayman and Ullmark presently have a combined cap hit of $8.475 million, the Bruins may not want to keep both goalies if that combined cap hit increases to, say, $11-12 million next season if Swayman signs a new contract.
As a result, the Bruins could decide to trade Ullmark (who is under contract until 2025) in order to free up cap space, obtain assets, and pave the way for Swayman to establish himself as Boston’s uncontested No. 1 goalie for the next five years.
Friedman recognized that a Swayman extension may lead to a larger Ullmark move, whether before the deadline or during the offseason.
“If someone craves a netminder now, Boston’s in a position to deliver,” Friedman said in a statement. “There are two faults with this, however. First, the Swayman/Ullmark tandem gives the Bruins the best opportunity to win right now, and second, Ullmark has some say in this.
