Are the Bruins facing a doomsday scenario with Swayman?

Bruins

“I firmly believe that Jeremy wants to play here. I asked him straight away: 'Do you want to play here?' And he does.”

COMMENT

In a press conference Monday where Cam Neely let months of frustration bubble to the surface, the Bruins president offered a glimmer of optimism.

With the start of the regular season just eight days away, Jeremy Swayman remained without a contract – and not on the ice for Boston. But Neely stressed that the Bruins' talented 25-year-old goaltender would be donning a black and gold sweater at some point this season.

“I truly believe Jeremy wants to play here,” Neely said. “I asked him straight away: 'Do you want to play here?' And he does. I believe we will get a deal done.”

After an eventful Monday night, one has to wonder if Swayman still has the same strong affinity for the Original Six franchise.

Just hours after Swayman's agent Lewis Gross issued a scathing statement to the Bruins and Neely about the validity of claims of a $64 million offer, longtime NHL insider Elliotte Friedman further undermined the collective heart integrity of the Boston fan base the sample.

“The next step is up to the goalie,” Friedman reported on Sportsnet Monday night. “When Lewis Gross explains that he and his client 'will need a few days to discuss what happens next,' they are calling a time out. They are careful to avoid making rash decisions that they will regret.”

The moment Neely said, “I have 64 million reasons why I would play right now,” speculation began to swirl that Swayman would officially request a trade. The statement reveals an obvious truth: He's thinking about it.

“Never make life-changing decisions when you are emotional. How does he feel in the next 24-48 hours? This determines where we go,” Friedman wrote.

It's a nearly unimaginable (and potentially competitive) scenario that Boston is just a week away from puck drop in the regular season.

After boasting the best goaltending duo in the league, the Bruins may be forced to move forward with a winning squad – and neither Swayman nor Linus Ullmark is in action.

Swayman has all the makings of an elite goalkeeper, especially the length of a long-term contract. The University of Maine product is not only technically sound. He is rarely fazed by the chaos around him and thrives on an inner drive fueled by criticism and insults.

That long memory and big chip on his shoulder has helped the Alaska native rise from an unheralded fourth-round pick to one of the brightest young goaltenders in the league.

This desire to prove others wrong was also expressed when Swayman referred to the pain of the contentious arbitration hearing he endured last summer.

Neely's comments, the resulting criticism of Swayman's camp and the lack of tangible progress in contract negotiations could further inflame the competitive pressure Swayman has experienced in his career.

Or it could end up destroying the bridge that connects Swayman and a Bruins team desperate to have him back on the roster.

If Swayman decides to start over and request a trade, it would be a devastating development for a Bruins team that appears poised to draft the next great franchise goaltender this winter.

But even as Swayman and his camp weigh his future in Boston, there's no guarantee the market is there for the Bruins to bite the bullet and move one of their most valuable pieces.

As Bruins fans annoyed by the relatively disappointing return in the Ullmark trade can attest, assessing the proper value of the goaltending market is as fruitful an endeavor as the Patriots' attempt to keep Jacoby Brissett clean.

Make no mistake, when it comes to a trade, the Bruins have leverage in any deal involving a restricted free agent like Swayman.

A limited market… and a high price

Boston's price is likely to be high for any No. 1 goaltender, especially one who controls the team for two more seasons.

The Vancouver Canucks secured the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft when they dealt goaltender Cory Schneider to the Devils, giving them the opportunity to select eventual captain Bo Horvat.

Given Swayman's high ceiling, Boston would likely want much more than just a first-round pick.

Another goalie with untapped potential could be attractive to goalie coach Bob Essensa and the rest of the Boston coaching staff. Instead of a series of draft picks, the Bruins could pursue an impactful NHL player, particularly one who could secure the vacant top-six spot on Charlie Coyle's line.

For the Bruins, that would be a significant ask that few teams could meet, especially at this stage of the preseason.

With the regular season just a week away, there are many clubs that would like to sign a 25-year-old goalkeeper with Swayman's potential. But very few of these franchises:

• Have the wherewithal to get the Bruins to pursue a number of prospects, picks or NHL players.
• Be sure to have enough space to accommodate everything Swayman and his camp are seeking in light of his massive new contract.

“The reality is that it's really difficult to trade goaltenders right now,” former Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft said on WEEI's “Jones and Keefe” on Tuesday. “There are 90 goalies that believe they can play in the NHL now, or teams across the league that believe they can play in the NHL now. The reason you're trading Ullmark in the summer is because that's when teams want their goaltenders. Then they want to get settled.

“On top of that, everyone feels like they're on target right now, or they certainly feel like they can't afford a $10 million goalie.” Because remember: you have to imagine that one of these teams that wants him will have to invest $10 million if you trade him. So my answer to the question is: It's really hard to trade goalkeepers right now, especially those who want to play 50 or 60 games, because most teams are in that position right now.”

As of Tuesday night, the only teams in the NHL with more than $9.5 million in cap space (according to PuckPedia) are the Utah Hockey Club, the San Jose Sharks, the Calgary Flames, the Anaheim Ducks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Some of these rebuilding teams might want a young goaltender like Swayman, with a 2025 first-round pick certainly tempting. A Utah team looking to make an impact in its new market could also be a potential landing spot, especially if Boston opts for a legitimate top-six forward like Clayton Keller or Matias Maccelli.

Still, the number of possible landing spots for Swayman this season is limited. And again, the Bruins would have to be completely overwhelmed by a return to accept a trade request.

Even though Boston will have to start a new season with Joonas Korpisalo in net, the Bruins believe they have the defensive strength to stay afloat, at least in the short term.

But any expected return on first-round picks or a cost-controlled 20-goal forward pales in comparison to the security that a No. 1 goalie like Swayman offers this Bruins team.

After investing heavily this summer in a top-six starter in Elias Lindholm and a powerhouse blueliner in Nikita Zadorov, the Bruins believe they are well-positioned for another playoff push. But Boston's ceiling is severely limited without Swayman serving as the last line of defense.

The confident goaltender ranked fourth in the league last year with 18.4 (per MoneyPuck) goals saved above expectations and regularly served as a balance to a Bruins defensive structure prone to losing Class A looks.

He is coming off an impressive playoff run, posting a .933 save percentage over 12 starts. All signs point to even greater returns for Swayman in the future.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to have a city, to have a home base that is as supportive as Boston,” Swayman said after hearing his name chanted at TD Garden during Boston’s final game of the 2023-24 season. “And they mean so much more to me than just fans. It's truly a home for me now. And hearing that was amazing. I’m just so grateful.”

The Bruins and Swayman cannot allow hurt feelings and the pain of a contentious contract crisis to splinter what has been an ideal partnership for all parties.

A trade request would be a nuclear option for Boston — and a significant step backwards for a Bruins team aiming for greater heights with the No. 1 seed in net.