It’s time for another update on NHL rumors. With over a week into training camp and several games played, many restricted free agents have signed contracts and are participating. However, one major RFA remains unsigned. With the season beginning next week, the pressure is on. Today’s NHL rumors focus on the latest news regarding the Boston Bruins and their young goalie.
All NHL rumors originate from original sources and may change.
NHL Rumors Update on Unsigned Boston Bruins Goalie
Rumor: Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic and TSN provided an update on negotiations between the Bruins and RFA goalie Jeremy Swayman.
INSIDER TRADING…
– Shesterkin camp looks to reset goalie market
– Sens waiting to start Ullmark extension talks
– Holland ready for next challenge
– Kessel seeking PTO; still eager to play
– Expansion not on agenda for next BOG meetingMORE: https://t.co/n11mVV6DTL pic.twitter.com/EAGWRYrnaG
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) September 24, 2024
nalysis: Swayman remains without a contract as Boston has already played several pre-season games. The Bruins have had to rely on Joonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi in goal.
LeBrun mentioned that both sides are interested in a long-term deal, with Swayman seeking an eight-year contract. However, the main obstacle seems to be the annual average cap hit for the goalie from Anchorage, Alaska.
While the average cap is a major point of contention, it’s positive that both parties agree on wanting a long-term contract. Although the discussions could be more challenging, finding common ground is encouraging.
Race Against the Clock
There’s some good news, but according to LeBrun, there appears to be a deadline. Boston has reportedly set an October 8 deadline to finalize the contract, coinciding with the Bruins’ season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has until December 1 to sign Swayman, but it makes sense for Boston to set an internal deadline to bring Swayman into the fold.
Sweeney has seemingly created a situation for himself by trading Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators before securing Swayman’s contract. The Bruins need Swayman if they aim to be contenders in the Eastern Conference.
It All Ties Together
Boston fans aren’t the only ones watching the contract negotiations. New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury needs to sign Igor Shesterkin to a new deal soon, as the Russian goalie will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Drury hopes to avoid allowing the Vezina Trophy winner to hit the open market and will be monitoring Swayman’s deal to gauge the market.
Another executive keeping an eye on the Swayman negotiations is Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill, who has his own RFA goalie to sign, Jake Oettinger. Nill has previously indicated he’s waiting to see how other deals unfold before proceeding with Oettinger. The outcomes of the Swayman and Shesterkin contracts will help Nill determine how much he needs to pay his star goalie in the off-season.
Bruins fans are hoping to reach the finish line on these talks. There have been many ups and downs, and they just want the uncertainty to end. Ideally, it will be a long time before they have to face this situation again.
Leave a Reply