>Restricted free agent goalie Jeremy Swayman, currently in a contentious contract standoff with Boston, said he would do “everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time” on the NHL’s new Amazon Prime Video docuseries.
Swayman is featured in Episode 3 of “FACEOFF: Inside the NHL,” which chronicles the Boston Bruins’ six-game Stanley Cup playoffs loss to the Florida Panthers last season. Swayman makes it clear he’d like to remain with the Bruins, as restricted free agency looms.
“I mean, I don’t want it to end,” he said on the show. “[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.
“Whatever I can do to help this team win. I know everything else will take care of itself.”
The Bruins anointed Swayman, 25, as their primary starting goaltender when they traded tandem-mate Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June. But they were unable to sign Swayman to a new contract. Swayman declined to report to Bruins training camp without a deal.
The relationship between the goalie’s camp and the team has grown contentious. The Bruins said on Monday that Joonas Korpisalo, acquired for Ullmark, is the likely starter for their season opener on Oct. 8. At that same news conference, team president Cam Neely said he was surprised by Swayman’s asking price.
“I don’t want to get into the weeds with what his ask is,” he said, “but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.”
Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, claimed the Bruins never offered that sum during their talks and expressed disappointment in the team for discussing their talks in public.
“We are extremely disappointed. This was not fair to Jeremy,” Gross said.
This isn’t the first contentious contract negotiation between Swayman and the Bruins. In 2023, they went to salary arbitration, with Swayman being awarded a one-year, $3.75 million contract. On the Amazon Prime Show, Swayman says that process was difficult for him.
“When you go into that room, you don’t say a word,” he said. “My arbitrator started first, said all of these great things. The arbitrator on their side … their job is to help the management side and to rip players. Hearing that you’re not worthy of what you think you’re worthy of, that was hard to hear. You don’t forget what was said.”
The Bruins goalie said he wrote down every criticism he heard during the hearing into a checklist that he would refer to during the season.
“My biggest knock was that I wasn’t trustworthy in the playoffs. Check,” said Swayman, motioning a checkmark with his hand.
The goalie had a 6-6 record with a .215 goals-against average and an NHL-best .933 save percentage in the 2024 postseason. But the Bruins lost in the second round to the Panthers, the same team that eliminated them the previous postseason.
“It’s disgusting to think about that I’m not going to raise a Stanley Cup over my head this year. The way I will get to do that is to turn the page and take positives and start working towards next year,” Swayman said.
Jeremy Swayman is a Chicago Blackhawk
He gonna sway off to Seattle or some shit
Bye bye.
These athletes make me laugh with the “ I want to stay” bs. If they wanted to stay so bad, they would sign. Anyone who feels sorry for these entitled douchebags is an idiot.
I don’t understand this really. “I’ll do anything in my power to stay” then presumably rejects a few contracts because he understandably believes/knows he is worth more. And I get a hockey career has a much lower amount of time to get your bag for the rest of your life but idk… it’s kind of hypocritical, like doing anything in your power to stay would mean taking league minimum if you had to.
Then sign the goddamn contract offer!
He keeps saying that he knows it’s a business, and then he takes it all personally. Fragile head.
Bruins: ‘here’s 8 million dollars’
Swayman: ‘boy, I wish I didn’t have could leave’
I will do everything in my power to stay a Bruin a long time… except sign a contract for $62 million.
C’mon, who doesn’t deserve a 300% pay increase?
These athletes squabbling over money is such a turn off for me. “ughGhh I don’t want it to end…..but I’d really like 8.5 mil instead of 8 mil” like what a loser
Then sign the fair contract offer…
Pro athletes are very wealthy but also workers employed by billionaires with deep pockets. Careers are very short and can end at any time. I’ll never blame players for wanting the best deals they can get. Fuck discounts, get paid!
What boggles my mind here is that there was an obvious choice made to move Ullmark **before Swayman was signed**
What kind of 4D chess level of stupidity is going through the Bruins FO to let things get to this point?
If he gets traded, would be entertaining to see him sign total value contract of 63.98M out if spite. (9.14M per for 7 years)
Sure, sure
This whole debacle is why I’m staying away from Boston as a goalie tandem in fantasy. I really don’t think Swayman is going to stay, or if he does it’s going to be in December or something like that and Boston will not be in good shape.
This looks like it’s heading for messy, messy divorce.
Question for those that know
If Swayman holds out but signs before Dec 1st
Does he get the whole 7.8 to 8m? Or prorated amount ?
If he is still entiled to the whole money… is this the game Gross is playing – to get some money back?
I can see the Bruins having non of such game
Excited to see him in Seattle.
I get people are upset about swayman not taking the offer, but also the man does deserve a lot. I think it’s fair to want a salary he deserves on the team he loves. If the team he loves doesn’t recognize his value, then honestly is their loss.
I think everyone is upset because he’s arguing over what to most people is an unbelievable amount of money. He’s one of the best goalies in the league, I don’t think it’s fair to be upset at him for wanting a salary which matches his value.
I get why he’s frustrated. I think he wants to stay in Boston, but he also knows his worth. Tbh, I can see it as more of the principle of him not getting what he’s worth.
Just playing devils advocate. I get swayman is also not budging. I just think people are more upset at him than he deserves
He does not want to leave then sign the contract. This is the dumbest contract dispute in years.
21 comments
>Restricted free agent goalie Jeremy Swayman, currently in a contentious contract standoff with Boston, said he would do “everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time” on the NHL’s new Amazon Prime Video docuseries.
Swayman is featured in Episode 3 of “FACEOFF: Inside the NHL,” which chronicles the Boston Bruins’ six-game Stanley Cup playoffs loss to the Florida Panthers last season. Swayman makes it clear he’d like to remain with the Bruins, as restricted free agency looms.
“I mean, I don’t want it to end,” he said on the show. “[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.
“Whatever I can do to help this team win. I know everything else will take care of itself.”
The Bruins anointed Swayman, 25, as their primary starting goaltender when they traded tandem-mate Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June. But they were unable to sign Swayman to a new contract. Swayman declined to report to Bruins training camp without a deal.
The relationship between the goalie’s camp and the team has grown contentious. The Bruins said on Monday that Joonas Korpisalo, acquired for Ullmark, is the likely starter for their season opener on Oct. 8. At that same news conference, team president Cam Neely said he was surprised by Swayman’s asking price.
“I don’t want to get into the weeds with what his ask is,” he said, “but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.”
Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, claimed the Bruins never offered that sum during their talks and expressed disappointment in the team for discussing their talks in public.
“We are extremely disappointed. This was not fair to Jeremy,” Gross said.
This isn’t the first contentious contract negotiation between Swayman and the Bruins. In 2023, they went to salary arbitration, with Swayman being awarded a one-year, $3.75 million contract. On the Amazon Prime Show, Swayman says that process was difficult for him.
“When you go into that room, you don’t say a word,” he said. “My arbitrator started first, said all of these great things. The arbitrator on their side … their job is to help the management side and to rip players. Hearing that you’re not worthy of what you think you’re worthy of, that was hard to hear. You don’t forget what was said.”
The Bruins goalie said he wrote down every criticism he heard during the hearing into a checklist that he would refer to during the season.
“My biggest knock was that I wasn’t trustworthy in the playoffs. Check,” said Swayman, motioning a checkmark with his hand.
The goalie had a 6-6 record with a .215 goals-against average and an NHL-best .933 save percentage in the 2024 postseason. But the Bruins lost in the second round to the Panthers, the same team that eliminated them the previous postseason.
“It’s disgusting to think about that I’m not going to raise a Stanley Cup over my head this year. The way I will get to do that is to turn the page and take positives and start working towards next year,” Swayman said.
Jeremy Swayman is a Chicago Blackhawk
He gonna sway off to Seattle or some shit
Bye bye.
These athletes make me laugh with the “ I want to stay” bs. If they wanted to stay so bad, they would sign. Anyone who feels sorry for these entitled douchebags is an idiot.
I don’t understand this really. “I’ll do anything in my power to stay” then presumably rejects a few contracts because he understandably believes/knows he is worth more. And I get a hockey career has a much lower amount of time to get your bag for the rest of your life but idk… it’s kind of hypocritical, like doing anything in your power to stay would mean taking league minimum if you had to.
Then sign the goddamn contract offer!
He keeps saying that he knows it’s a business, and then he takes it all personally. Fragile head.
Bruins: ‘here’s 8 million dollars’
Swayman: ‘boy, I wish I didn’t have could leave’
I will do everything in my power to stay a Bruin a long time… except sign a contract for $62 million.
C’mon, who doesn’t deserve a 300% pay increase?
These athletes squabbling over money is such a turn off for me. “ughGhh I don’t want it to end…..but I’d really like 8.5 mil instead of 8 mil” like what a loser
Then sign the fair contract offer…
Pro athletes are very wealthy but also workers employed by billionaires with deep pockets. Careers are very short and can end at any time. I’ll never blame players for wanting the best deals they can get. Fuck discounts, get paid!
What boggles my mind here is that there was an obvious choice made to move Ullmark **before Swayman was signed**
What kind of 4D chess level of stupidity is going through the Bruins FO to let things get to this point?
If he gets traded, would be entertaining to see him sign total value contract of 63.98M out if spite. (9.14M per for 7 years)
Sure, sure
This whole debacle is why I’m staying away from Boston as a goalie tandem in fantasy. I really don’t think Swayman is going to stay, or if he does it’s going to be in December or something like that and Boston will not be in good shape.
This looks like it’s heading for messy, messy divorce.
Question for those that know
If Swayman holds out but signs before Dec 1st
Does he get the whole 7.8 to 8m? Or prorated amount ?
If he is still entiled to the whole money… is this the game Gross is playing – to get some money back?
I can see the Bruins having non of such game
Excited to see him in Seattle.
I get people are upset about swayman not taking the offer, but also the man does deserve a lot. I think it’s fair to want a salary he deserves on the team he loves. If the team he loves doesn’t recognize his value, then honestly is their loss.
I think everyone is upset because he’s arguing over what to most people is an unbelievable amount of money. He’s one of the best goalies in the league, I don’t think it’s fair to be upset at him for wanting a salary which matches his value.
I get why he’s frustrated. I think he wants to stay in Boston, but he also knows his worth. Tbh, I can see it as more of the principle of him not getting what he’s worth.
Just playing devils advocate. I get swayman is also not budging. I just think people are more upset at him than he deserves
He does not want to leave then sign the contract. This is the dumbest contract dispute in years.