The Boston Bruins moved Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators without extending the contract of former goaltender Jeremy Swayman, which is now being heavily questioned. Swayman, who split the crease with Ullmark during the 2023 season, emerged as the team’s starter in the 2024 playoffs. His outstanding performance, including a.933 save %, earned him the team’s pick as their goalie moving forward, therefore the club transferred Ullmark under the idea that they could complete a Swayman transaction without any difficulty.
The error was less in trading Ullmark than in timing. More time passes, and the Swayman agreement remains unfinished. Concerns that the two sides chose not to go to arbitration may leave the Bruins open to an offer sheet. Similarly, Swayman’s contract may set a standard for other netminders (or vice versa), and issues regarding cap space in Boston are emerging.
The Bruins have been working on a Swayman deal for quite some time.
In early March, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Swayman and Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney had began negotiating his next deal. Swayman verified this, but did not comment on how things were developing. And it’s difficult to determine where things stand. The arbitration procedure last summer was difficult for Swayman, who described it as “hearing things that a player should never hear”. He’s most likely professional enough to proceed, but there are several details to keep in mind when discussions resume. This experience most likely shaped his expectations and desire to be adaptable.
Knowing they might have ruined the relationship a little, the Bruins’ decision to trade Ullmark before reaching an agreement with Swayman was curious. Some may argue that the Bruins needed to clear out Ullmark’s $5 million salary burden, but without a signed contract for Swayman, Boston took a significant risk.
The Bruins Are in a Tricky Spot Now.
Even as a restricted free agent, the Bruins confront the problem of negotiating with a player who has shown his worth and wields enormous power. Swayman, who is two years away from unrestricted free agency, is expected to receive a significant bump over his prior contract of slightly less than $3.5 million. Meanwhile, the Bruins now have more than $8.6 million in cap space for the 2024-25 season, with Swayman the only active team player that requires a new contract. The goaltender recognizes his worth, that the Bruins are in a difficult place, and that he is their top priority.
On July 1, General Manager Don Sweeney stressed Swayman’s importance to the squad, saying, “Sway is a big part of this whole dynamic of what we’re trying to put together.” It is a priority for us. We will continue to look for a negotiated landing location.” However, Sweeney is not about to reveal his cards. He claimed free agency and Swayman’s negotiations are unrelated, even if they are. He stated to the press: “We’re in a great spot to find the best-negotiated deal we can find for both sides.” It’s become evident that this isn’t totally true, and Swayman appears ready to go all in.
This is not to say that a deal will not be completed or that an offer sheet will be issued. Swayman is expected to sign a long-term contract deal with Boston. Still, Swayman has the option of going easy on Boston or stretching this out. Regardless, the goaltender is going to get a significant raise.
The options vary from a long-term pact to a shorter two-year contract, with an average annual value (AAV) of $6.5 million to $7.5 million. If the Bruins play hardball, an offer sheet might be a real threat. Anything over $9 million, and Swayman may sign it, especially considering previous disagreements in discussions.
In retrospect, the Bruins’ choice to transfer Ullmark before acquiring Swayman appears to be a mistake. If the Bruins try to lowball Swayman again and another team makes a more lucrative offer, Boston risks losing a player in whom they have invested considerably. At the very least, Sweeney has ruled out the possibility of a team-friendly contract and given Swayman no incentive to offer them any favors.
