After Bruins president Cam Neely said Monday that they’d offered an eight-year, $64MM deal to RFA goaltender Jeremy Swayman that he didn’t accept, Swayman’s agent, SPM Sports’ Lewis Gross, said they’d never received that offer.
According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Swayman’s camp is telling the truth. The $64MM figure referenced by Neely was a slight exaggeration – the highest total value Boston has offered on an eight-year deal is $62.4MM, Seravalli reports. That’s a cap hit of $7.8MM compared to the $8MM implied by Neely.
Still, that figure more than bridges the halfway point in negotiations. Seravalli adds that since the two sides have zeroed in on a maximum-term contract, the Bruins have held strong at a $52MM total value with a $6.5MM AAV, while Swayman’s representation wants a $68MM deal with an $8.5MM AAV.
“[The Bruins] probably think, ’Hey, we’ve moved a ton, now it’s your turn,’ and the fact that hasn’t happened apparently has them frustrated,” Seravalli said on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey show on Tuesday.
There’s no indication that a smaller gap of $700K per season will soon be bridged. Gross said in yesterday’s statement that Neely’s comment “was extremely unfair to Jeremy” and that they “will take a few days to discuss where we go from here.” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery also said that he fully anticipates Joonas Korpisalo being Boston’s opening night starter against the Panthers on Oct. 8.
Swayman has until Dec. 1 to sign a contract to be eligible to play this season. There’s no indication either side has turned their focus toward examining trade options regarding his signing rights, but the longer this goes without any movement, the possibility rises.
Swayman, 26 in November, finished seventh in Vezina Trophy voting last season after recording a 25-10-8 record with a .916 SV% and 2.53 GAA in 44 appearances.
azcm2511
$7.8 aav is more than fair for him. If he doesn’t think so then he should settle for a bridge deal and bet on himself.
RCEME-RETD-Cpl-Habsfan
Agreed.. yeah he has very good stats so far but as a 1a/1b tandem.. sign a 1-2 year bridge contract as the true #1. If he can show he is a true #1 then go max $ and term.. if he stumbles then bruins are not stuck with a $8 million boat anchor for 6 more years if signed to max 8 year instead of the 2 year bridge deal. Major problem with this is I think he would be a ufa after a 2 year bridge and if he is lights out then he can give the Bruins the big FU and walk..lol
doghockey
Why would he take a bridge deal when he has the leverage to get money and term?
carl4sox
Cam, stop lying. Do you want him of not?
PoisonedPens
Cam will change his tune and his offer after watching Korpisalo for a few games.
RipperMagoo
The Bruins have received good to great play from Swayman over the past several seasons for relatively cheap.
His camp clearly feels like that should be factored into his next contract, I tend to agree.
I’d request a trade out of Boston at this point.
fightcitymayor
I know Bruins ownership is famously tight-fisted & wouldn’t be surprised if they instructed Neely to drop the dime in public to gin up ill will against Swayman amongst the fans, but does it really pay to play these games & alienate the guy you supposedly want as your long-term future starting goalie?
joe mcgrath
That “tight-fisted” ownership has spent to the top of the cap every year since it came into exsistence.
PortuCool
Watching from the outside, I’m stunned by the ease by which the hockey team from Boston turned an enviable org. strength into a possible laughable disaster.
Swayman seems motivated to make a stand for the G market. We can debate the merits of the money being discussed; we can debate if Swayman is doing what’s best for himself. But Boston has possibly shot themselves in the foot (or even a more sensitive body part) over how they’ve handled the whole G matter.
mcdavidlikeamac
No kidding. That is actually insane. Best one -two punch in the league to korpisalo doesn’t scream good asset management.
pawtucket
Swayman trade incoming?
Who could offer a decent goalie, for cheaper, and has the space for Swayman?
HockeyBoz
Detroit !!
Johnny Z
LOL, the Wings have no cap space.
PortuCool
Buffalo has the space. And any team could use Swayman. But Buffalo wouldn’t trade UPL or Levi.
Jesús Ramos
Montreal Primeau or Montembeault as we have Dobes & Fowler who will be with the Habs soon
FeeltheThunder
I will just say if the Boston Bruins & Jeremy Swayman don’t come to terms a few weeks into the season then I suspect Swayman will request a trade which will force Boston’s hand on either caving to Swayman’s contractual terms or granting him a trade. If traded, there are only a handful or so teams that could take on Swayman’s contractual wants. Boston could potentially lose both Ullmark (who’s already gone) & Swayman because of really poor decision making by management in not getting things in order before making moves. It’s an interesting scenario to see how it’s going to play out.
aka.nda
Seems like whatever happens next, the Bruins have botched this. The initial question remains “how much,” but now it’s taken on a comedic pun.
alstott40
would like to see him bet on himself.. take $7.75 for two years .. with an agreement in writing that it bumps to 5/$9mill per if he hits mutually agreed upon milestones
Johnny Z
Zergas and Dostal for Swayman. Swayman to the Ducks would be deserving of this comedy show!
RipperMagoo
Don’t quit your day job.
pawtucket
Ducks are actually a good option….could help replenish the sad state of Boston’s prospect cupboard in addition to adding a goalie that aligns with their core.
RipperMagoo
So the Ducks will take on Swayman at 8 mil along with Gibson’s 6.4 million? What other team has 14.4 million invested into their goalies?
And the Bruins now have Korpisalo and Dostal as a tandem? I guess with Zegras’ amazing defensive game, he’ll cover up that they both combined for a -21 GSAA last year compared to Swayman at +18 GSAA?
Dwalt
That dumb comment by Neely, Swaymen is asking for the Brinks truck and I don’t think he is worth it. Hopefully, they get a deal done. Just tired of hearing about it at this point.
riverrat55
I enjoyed the Take on Top Shelf Hockey late last night on the Swayman , fiasco , where it is discussed the Nylander incident between, Sweeney & Neely and getting into the current contract status for Swayman , where Sweeney was called a Puppet ,
link to youtube.com