The Boston Bruins and RFA goaltender Jeremy Swayman are still far apart in contract extension negotiations, per Bruins insider Shawn Hutcheon.
According to Hutcheon, the gap between Jeremy Swayman and the Bruins lies in both dollars and terms of the contract. The information sheds light on earlier reports that suggested both sides were still at odds over the contract’s terms.
Hutcheon posted the following on X:
“Sources close to the situation tell me that while talks are ongoing, as of today (8/22/2024), the #NHLBruins and Jeremy Swayman are far apart in contract term (length) and dollar amount.”
The concerning update casts doubt on the Bruins’ goaltending situation. The club felt confident enough to trade former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark earlier this summer.
Moreover, it seemed like contract negotiations were on the right track as both parties passed on salary arbitration, especially after last summer’s unsavory process.
But as it stands, Jeremy Swayman’s situation with the Bruins remains at an impasse. With training camp less than four weeks away, the Bruins will need to figure out a solution sooner rather than later.
While it seems unlikely that the club would prolong the situation, there’s a possibility that Swayman could sit out a portion of the regular season until a deal is done.
The Boston Bruins goaltending situation without Jeremy Swayman
Without Jeremy Swayman under contract, the Bruins will need to turn to Joonas Korpisalo, who joined this summer in the Ullmark trade.
Korpisalo had been the starter for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators before joining the Bruins. However, underwhelming performances have left Korpisalo in mostly a backup role.
While Korpisalo could fill in as the starter while the club and Swayman work out a deal, the goaltending depth gets rather thin after that.
The B’s have Michael Dipietro and Brandon Bussi in the organization. However, neither goalie has seen any sort of NHL action. That situation means the Bruins would need to find a stop-gap backup for Korpisalo.
Perhaps dipping into the remaining free-agent goaltenders could provide some relief. For instance, goalies like Antti Raanta, Kevin Lankinen, and Martin Jones could join the Bruins on a PTO. Doing so would give the Bruins some options until a deal with Swayman could be finalized.
For now, Bruins fans shouldn’t push the panic button just yet. But as the days tick by and the opening of training camp gets closer, fans may need to worry about not having the team’s number one goalie signed and ready to hit the ice.
