Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman signs for eight years and $66 million

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins signed Jeremy Swayman to an eight-year, $66 million contract on Sunday that will get their No. 1 goaltender back on the ice just two days before the season opener.

As a restricted free agent, Swayman had missed all of training camp. Teams faced a Dec. 1 deadline to sign him or sit out the entire season, a potential disaster for a team that had two top goaltenders last year — Swayman and 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark – which rotated in the network until the start of the season, the playoffs.

After serving as Ullmark's No. 2 pick during Boston's record-setting 2022-23 season, Swayman was unable to agree to a long-term contract in the summer of 2023 and was handed a $3.475 million deal in arbitration. He was outraged by the process and said, “I never want to do it again.”

Swayman alternated with Ullmark last year and made 43 regular-season starts with a 2.53 goals-against average before earning the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Bruins lost in the second round to eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said his top priority was to sign Swayman in the offseason, but he traded Ullmark before locking up the 25-year-old from Alaska – timing that made an impact on the player the negotiations provided.

When training camp began (in September), Swayman still had no contract. The Bruins had Joonas Korpisalo, acquired from the Senators in the Ullmark trade, and 26-year-old Brandon Bussi, who played 41 games for Providence of the AHL last season, on the roster.

Coach Jim Montgomery said early in camp that he viewed Swayman's absence like an injury: “It's next man up.”

Korpisalo started 49 games for Ottawa last season with a 3.27 GAA. Boston also received Senators 2024 first-round draft pick and forward Mark Kastelic as part of the deal.