Jeremy Swayman greets Johnny Gaudreau after signing a new contract

Jeremy Swayman met with Bruins media members on Sunday after signing a new contract, but his initial comments had nothing to do with the eight-year deal.

Swayman opened the press conference with a tribute to Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed while cycling by a suspected drunk driver in late August. Gaudreau spoke with the Boston goalie through an agent who expressed his sincere condolences before opening the floor to questions.

“Before we get started, I want to say something,” Swayman told reporters, as seen on NESN. “I had a lot of indirect connections with Johnny Gaudreau. I think this is a great platform for me and my family and of course this organization to express our condolences to this family and to Johnny and Matthew. “Obviously we share the same agent – ​​Lewis Gross.” – Every conversation I've had with him since I joined their team at 16 has had something to do with Johnny. The way Lewis talked about him and all the similarities between him and me, what he told me was pretty humbling.

“So I hope that his family feels the endless support of my family, of course me and the entire hockey world. To see how much commitment and love he got – it just shows the impact he had on our world.” And for the game of hockey, I just wanted to convey that.

Swayman's greeting wasn't the first time the Bruins honored Gaudreau. The organization issued a statement shortly after the Boston College product was released and observed a 13-second moment of silence before the season opener.