2024 Bruins Off Season News - Everyone Else But the Center

[IdiotKicker]

If Zadorov is able to play top minutes, the defense corps looks really solid. Up front, they’re still short a winger from what I’d like to see on a real contender, but it’s close. And getting a rebound from Lindholm and if both Lysell and Merkulov can stick, this team becomes really interesting. Because ideally I’d like Geekie down on the 4th to be able to really roll 4 lines consistently, but I don’t think it’s a huge problem where he is. It’s a team where a few things need to break right and both acquisitions have to live up to their contracts, but they’ll be a playoff team and have upside potential if some of these guys return to form or play up a bit.

 

[cshea]

You guys know wayyy more about hockey than I do.

So the weakness of this team currently is that they need another top 6 winger?

Looks like center and defense have been beefed up to the point where they are both pretty good?

Essentially, Sweeney is placing a lot of eggs in the Lysell bucket?

They definitely addressed center and defense. They're better there now than they were last year, though the size of the contracts are certainly risky.

Looking at the depth chart, winger is definiately the weak spot. Their logic and approach to the position does make some sense. They essentially prioritized center and defense yesterday because those positions are harder to fill. It's very hard to trade for a top 6 center or a top 4 defenseman which is what they view Lindholm and Zadorov as. If you do want to pursue one via trade, it costs a lot and they don't have a lot to spare (hence they acknowledgment from Sweeney that they had been trying and failing to acquire Lindholm via trade 2 years). Wingers are much easier to acquire via trade at the trade deadline.The approach seems to be to see what we've got with the kids, Lysell and Merkulov and anyone else, and then we can re-evaluate at the deadline.

I can understand the logic but personally, I would've rather dumped Korpisalo and used the money they are spending on him at wing to begin the year. It wouold've given them a bit more insurance for the start of the year and also would've have completely blocked a kid if a kid was ready to take the leap.

 

[Salem's Lot]

You guys know wayyy more about hockey than I do.

So the weakness of this team currently is that they need another top 6 winger?

Looks like center and defense have been beefed up to the point where they are both pretty good?

Essentially, Sweeney is placing a lot of eggs in the Lysell bucket?

He did draft the guy in the first round. And we all loved the pick at the time. Sometimes you have to trust your development system. I think Sweeney is willing to do this at wing much more than he would say, in net.

As much as I hate taking Korpisalo back in the Ullmark deal, Sweeney was not going into camp with only one goalie with NHL experience. He would’ve made another trade or signed someone.

 

[cshea]

If anyone wants some day 2 intrigue, Swayman is at Warrior today. Could be a signing, could just be in talking to the dev camp kids.

 

[TSC]

It's starting to become a bit clearer what Sweeney is trying to build/his current vision for the team.

To start, let's look at the projected starting 6 defense this year:

View: https://twitter.com/A2ZSportsTakes/status/1807820124998521137


And now how he's drafted d-men:

View: https://twitter.com/_TyAnderson/status/1807128834233487677


Forwards drafted this year:

Letourneau - 6'7
Morello - 6'3

Signings this offseason:

Lindhold - 6'1
Max Jones - 6'3
Riley Tufte - 6'6

Fowards drafted in 2023
Pelosi - 6'2
Hendrickson - 6'2
Walsh - 6'1
Nassen - 6'4

He's also targeted and traded for Pavel Zacha (6'4), Tyler Bertuzzi (6'0), Dmitri Orlov (6'0), Garnet Hathaway (6'2) in the last couple of seasons.

That starting 6 on D this year is going to be HEAVY. Even Lohrei who is (as of now) a stick figure has shown some toughness, and with some pro-level conditioning and natural weight gaining, looks to be someone who could also be a monster.

I guess this is what it meant when Sweeney/Cam said they wanted to be tougher to play against.

 

[5dice]

You could say they are building for Florida the same way the Sixers or Knicks are building for the Celtics or TWolves were built to stop Denver.

It’s going to be hard to defend the actions of Zadorov playing on the edge—in his highlight reel, the other team goes nuts reacting to him over half the time. But that’s the world the Panthers have created. Credit the Bruins in getting closer to matching their play.

 

[burstnbloom]

You guys know wayyy more about hockey than I do.

So the weakness of this team currently is that they need another top 6 winger?

Looks like center and defense have been beefed up to the point where they are both pretty good?

Essentially, Sweeney is placing a lot of eggs in the Lysell bucket?

I think he wants Lysell to make the team, and he probably should, but he will need some minutes to figure it out and we know how that goes.

I think from a "players" standpoint, the units look pretty good. The challenge that I see with this roster is that they were a below average team when it came to 5v5 play last year. They were 18th in xG% and 10th in GF. Defensively they weren't great, they allowed 168 xGA, which was 18th in the league. In terms of actual goal differential, though, they bested the competition by 41 goals. The reason for that was the goaltenders were unreal last year. Swayman saved 18.4 Goals above expected and Ullmark 14.8. They essentially saved .4 goals per 60 minutes as a tandem last year. Conversely, Korpisalo saved -16 goals above expected.

The challenge I have, is they have an ok defense, which you expect can get a little better with the addition on the back end. I imagine its significantly less impactful than the change in goal, however. And up front, they add Lindholm, but they lose Debrusk. Lindholm has never been a huge 5v5 point scorer, but last year he was especially bad with 6G and 7 Primary assists in 1000 minutes.

To me this team's biggest weakness was generating offense at 5v5 and I'm not really sure what their plan is going to be to solve that problem. People act like they lost to Florida because Florida was tougher than them. That's just not what happened. They lost to Florida because they couldn't generate 5v5 offense against their pack it in d zone structure.

We will see how it goes, I guess.

 

[Foxy42]

Schedule is out. Black Friday game at 6pm is a disgrace. Two of the most exciting kids to see in the game (Bedard and Hughes) making their only Boston visits in the last 2 games of the season sucks also...end of complaint...

 

[kenneycb]

I think he wants Lysell to make the team, and he probably should, but he will need some minutes to figure it out and we know how that goes.

I think from a "players" standpoint, the units look pretty good. The challenge that I see with this roster is that they were a below average team when it came to 5v5 play last year. They were 18th in xG% and 10th in GF. Defensively they weren't great, they allowed 168 xGA, which was 18th in the league. In terms of actual goal differential, though, they bested the competition by 41 goals. The reason for that was the goaltenders were unreal last year. Swayman saved 18.4 Goals above expected and Ullmark 14.8. They essentially saved .4 goals per 60 minutes as a tandem last year. Conversely, Korpisalo saved -16 goals above expected.

The challenge I have, is they have an ok defense, which you expect can get a little better with the addition on the back end. I imagine its significantly less impactful than the change in goal, however. And up front, they add Lindholm, but they lose Debrusk. Lindholm has never been a huge 5v5 point scorer, but last year he was especially bad with 6G and 7 Primary assists in 1000 minutes.

To me this team's biggest weakness was generating offense at 5v5 and I'm not really sure what their plan is going to be to solve that problem. People act like they lost to Florida because Florida was tougher than them. That's just not what happened. They lost to Florida because they couldn't generate 5v5 offense against their pack it in d zone structure.

We will see how it goes, I guess.

That's somewhat circular. Florida is able to pack it in successfully partly because their toughness and physicality prevented the Bruins from getting and sustaining pressure in danger zones. This was compounded by their lack of high end offensive talent and those players' inability to regularly create from non-danger zones.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Schedule is out. Black Friday game at 6pm is a disgrace. Two of the most exciting kids to see in the game (Bedard and Hughes) making their only Boston visits in the last 2 games of the season sucks also...end of complaint...

The national TV schedules aren't fully out yet, but I believe it is at 6 pm because it will be on TNT.

 

[TSC]

That's somewhat circular. Florida is able to pack it in successfully partly because their toughness and physicality prevented the Bruins from getting and sustaining pressure in danger zones. This was compounded by their lack of high end offensive talent and those players' inability to regularly create from non-danger zones.

It’s worth pointing out that Florida also shut down McDavid and Draisitl for the most part in the SCF. Like, they were really, really good this year. Not generating offense against them says less about the Bruins not doing enough offensively than it does FL being a fucking wagon.

 

[Murby]

It's starting to become a bit clearer what Sweeney is trying to build/his current vision for the team.

To start, let's look at the projected starting 6 defense this year:

View: https://twitter.com/A2ZSportsTakes/status/1807820124998521137


And now how he's drafted d-men:

View: https://twitter.com/_TyAnderson/status/1807128834233487677


Forwards drafted this year:

Letourneau - 6'7
Morello - 6'3

Signings this offseason:

Lindhold - 6'1
Max Jones - 6'3
Riley Tufte - 6'6

Fowards drafted in 2023
Pelosi - 6'2
Hendrickson - 6'2
Walsh - 6'1
Nassen - 6'4

He's also targeted and traded for Pavel Zacha (6'4), Tyler Bertuzzi (6'0), Dmitri Orlov (6'0), Garnet Hathaway (6'2) in the last couple of seasons.

That starting 6 on D this year is going to be HEAVY. Even Lohrei who is (as of now) a stick figure has shown some toughness, and with some pro-level conditioning and natural weight gaining, looks to be someone who could also be a monster.

I guess this is what it meant when Sweeney/Cam said they wanted to be tougher to play against.

I think this is the smart play. Now that the NHL CTE lawsuits have been settled, the league has slowly reverted to big, mobile players who hit hard. This is why I love Zadorov.

By my untrained eye, it’s been obvious for a few years now that teams are going back to big. I’m glad we are finally catching up.

 

[burstnbloom]

That's somewhat circular. Florida is able to pack it in successfully partly because their toughness and physicality prevented the Bruins from getting and sustaining pressure in danger zones. This was compounded by their lack of high end offensive talent and those players' inability to regularly create from non-danger zones.

I mean - not really? I don't actually think Florida is all that physical of a team between the whistles. They are also below average sized, significantly smaller than the bruins. They were content to draw penalties and play the 5v5 game even. When they go the puck in t he ozone, they put it deep and forechecked. It's similar in style to the Canes and that causes problems for the Bruins dzone system and has for years. Offensively the same issues the bruins showed all season at 5v5 reared their heads in that prioritizing only dangerous offense without the talent to break through a packed in system was often stifled, and that happened against the Panthers but it also happened 30+ games during the regular season. The terrible power play performance just exacerbated the problem in the playoffs. Lindholm might help with the latter, but he hasn't been the guy to help with the former in a while.

 

[kenneycb]

Size doesn’t necessarily equate to toughness or physicality. For example, JVR is huge but not particularly physical. Nathan Gerbe is tiny but was one of the most physical players I watched in college. It's an extremely flawed metric but Florida was first in the league in hits. Bruins were second so there was some matching there but claiming the Panthers are small therefore there not tough is incorrect. Their forecheck is also effective because of their toughness - you get the puck deep and win possession by getting the man off the puck. You do that several games in a row and it starts to wear on a team. That toughness / physicality translated to the D-zone as well IMO where they a strong defensive structure that was enabled by their ability to push the Bruins less talented forwards to the outskirts of the zone.

 

[teddykgb]

Was wondering why Heinen wasn’t in these lineups only to discover I missed his signing in Vancouver. I know he was a tryout last year but he will be missed

 

[Cotillion]

Would love to hear some movement on Swayman’s contract. I assume they don’t actually go all the way to the arbitration hearing even if they don’t sign him before the deadline for qualifying for it.

 

[LogansDad]

Would love to hear some movement on Swayman’s contract. I assume they don’t actually go all the way to the arbitration hearing even if they don’t sign him before the deadline for qualifying for it.

He was pretty angry after arbitration last year, IIRC. I am concerned that it is effecting both current and future negotiations.

 

[katnado]

He was pretty angry after arbitration last year, IIRC. I am concerned that it is effecting both current and future negotiations.

Swayman elected not to file for arbitration today. So that does help on the theory that there is at least some framework in place. Bruins have until tomorrow to file however I think. Or I might be wrong on that timeline.

 

[amfox1]

5pm ET tomorrow.

 

[cshea]

Don’t see much of an upside to filing for arb. With Swayman not filing himself, the only thing it’d do is create a pressure point and take a holdout option off the board. It would also take an offer sheet threat away but the Bruins are well set up to match an offer sheet. I guess the nightmare scenario is a 2-year, high AAV deal that walks him to free agency, but the same scenario exists with arbitration too (whoever files, the other party picks the 1 or 2 year term, I believe).

 

[Spelunker]

Size doesn’t necessarily equate to toughness or physicality. For example, JVR is huge but not particularly physical. Nathan Gerbe is tiny but was one of the most physical players I watched in college. It's an extremely flawed metric but Florida was first in the league in hits. Bruins were second so there was some matching there but claiming the Panthers are small therefore there not tough is incorrect. Their forecheck is also effective because of their toughness - you get the puck deep and win possession by getting the man off the puck. You do that several games in a row and it starts to wear on a team. That toughness / physicality translated to the D-zone as well IMO where they a strong defensive structure that was enabled by their ability to push the Bruins less talented forwards to the outskirts of the zone.

Somewhere Hal Gill sheds one slow-moving tear

 

[FullaPoloni]

Somewhere Hal Gill sheds one slow-moving tear

Hal will always have this complete outlier moment Hal Gill vs Joey Kocur (youtube.com) ; Of course, I thought he was going to need facial reconstruction when the gloves came as Kocur threw as hard as anyone ever did on skates

 

[Spelunker]

Hal will always have this complete outlier moment Hal Gill vs Joey Kocur (youtube.com) ; Of course, I thought he was going to need facial reconstruction when the gloves came as Kocur threw as hard as anyone ever did on skates

Thankfully Kocur couldn't really reach him, and Hal- much to form- basically just fell down.

 

[FullaPoloni]

Thankfully Kocur couldn't really reach him, and Hal- much to form- basically just fell down.

That was his only defense

 

[amfox1]

Swayman elected not to file for arbitration today. So that does help on the theory that there is at least some framework in place. Bruins have until tomorrow to file however I think. Or I might be wrong on that timeline.

Bruins also elect not to file arbitration, per Steve Conroy.

 

[The Mort Report]

I don't know how I feel about how this is shaking out. I would think if they were far apart and there was a chance they couldn't get Sway done long term Sweeney wouldn't have traded Ullmark, no matter how badly he wanted back into the first round. It would have also been way better for the team to get it done before free agency started to have a better idea of what money was available. I also get the thought of trying to do him a solid by not filing, but if you're say Utah wanting to make a splash in their new market, would you off Sway something like 3x12? B's probably can't match, Sway gets paid and gets to hit the FA market again at 28. Yes, I know it's highly unlikely, but it's now another factor out there.

I know the by far most likely outcome is he's signing long term, but Sweeney seems to be playing a bit with fire unless Sway is being completely stubborn in his asking price

 

[cshea]

I don't know how I feel about how this is shaking out. I would think if they were far apart and there was a chance they couldn't get Sway done long term Sweeney wouldn't have traded Ullmark, no matter how badly he wanted back into the first round. It would have also been way better for the team to get it done before free agency started to have a better idea of what money was available. I also get the thought of trying to do him a solid by not filing, but if you're say Utah wanting to make a splash in their new market, would you off Sway something like 3x12? B's probably can't match, Sway gets paid and gets to hit the FA market again at 28. Yes, I know it's highly unlikely, but it's now another factor out there.

I know the by far most likely outcome is he's signing long term, but Sweeney seems to be playing a bit with fire unless Sway is being completely stubborn in his asking price

If a team wants to do something outrageous, you take the draft picks. $12 million is 4 firsts and that is insane. Hell, $9.15-$11.45 is 2 1sts, 2nd and a 3rd. I’d let him go for that but the Bruins have the space to match that as well.

If Swayman wanted out so badly his shortest route is through arb awards. Suck it up, take the beating in the hearing, sign and play it out until UFA. Not filing suggests he (and the team) are comfortable with the state of negotiations/relationship.

 

[jk333]

I don't know how I feel about how this is shaking out. I would think if they were far apart and there was a chance they couldn't get Sway done long term Sweeney wouldn't have traded Ullmark, no matter how badly he wanted back into the first round. It would have also been way better for the team to get it done before free agency started to have a better idea of what money was available. I also get the thought of trying to do him a solid by not filing, but if you're say Utah wanting to make a splash in their new market, would you off Sway something like 3x12? B's probably can't match, Sway gets paid and gets to hit the FA market again at 28. Yes, I know it's highly unlikely, but it's now another factor out there.

I know the by far most likely outcome is he's signing long term, but Sweeney seems to be playing a bit with fire unless Sway is being completely stubborn in his asking price

Utah would owe the Bruins 4 first round draft picks. I’m with your larger point but have to think Sweeney and Swayman have some kind of understanding.

FWIW, below are the teams with the assets for an offer sheet-

 

[The Mort Report]

Thanks you two, I completely forgot about the picks attached to that kind of move, and yeah by both turning down filing should point to them being close, opposite of what I thought ha. Just curious, if they can't agree to something what is his status headed into the season?

I'm also now remembering we were sitting around like this wondering what was taking so long with Pasta. It still feels like a weird road a bit, curious to see where they end up

 

[Salem's Lot]

If Swayman wanted out, he would have made that known to the team before they traded Ullmark, and they would have traded him instead. He definitely wouldn’t be showing up and talking to the prospects at development camp. He’s signing.

 

[Dewey's 'stache]

Kinda bummed they let Jesper Bovquist leave to FLA for $775,000 for 1 year and now have Kastelic likely taking his place on the 4th line. Not sure Kastelic is an equal or upgrade on Bovquist

 

[cshea]

Kinda bummed they let Jesper Bovquist leave to FLA for $775,000 for 1 year and now have Kastelic likely taking his place on the 4th line. Not sure Kastelic is an equal or upgrade on Bovquist

Kastelic is 56% in draws for his career; Boqvist is 36%. He’s also a better forechecker and brings a bit more of the rough stuff. This gives them a bit more flexibility on the 4th line as they have 2 good face off guys, Beecher a lefty and Kastelic a righty.

 

[cshea]

Thanks you two, I completely forgot about the picks attached to that kind of move, and yeah by both turning down filing should point to them being close, opposite of what I thought ha. Just curious, if they can't agree to something what is his status headed into the season?

I'm also now remembering we were sitting around like this wondering what was taking so long with Pasta. It still feels like a weird road a bit, curious to see where they end up

With arb gone, Swayman has 2 options at the moment:

• Sign an offer sheet
• Hold out

The offer sheet option has been discussed and I don't think it's realistic. I think it'd be a waste of time for the acquiring team since the Bruins are well protected from a cap standpoint and will likely insta-match unless it's something crazy and the draft pick compensation makes them think. There's no poison pill type stuff in the NHL so there's no real structure that would force the Bruins into a serious decision. The worst case scenario for an offer sheet would be a team going 2 years on an offer sheet. That walks Swayman right to unrestricted free agency. That would kind of suck but I don't think it's likely. I don't think a team would go high AAV for 2-years because they aren't going to risk the losing a ton of draft capital for 2 years. I guess there could be a wink-wink, nudge-nudge type agreement for an extension after the 2-years...but that's a lot of time before it can even be filed. That means it'd probably be a middle range AAV which the Bruins match and get 2 more years to figure it out.

That leaves a hold out. There is a cutoff date in December where he would have to sign before in order to be eligible to play in the NHL next season. FWIW, Sweeney has never had a hold out into the season. Although in fairness, he had never gone into an arbitration hearing with a player until Swayman last year.

Swayman's situation isn't too comparable to Pastrnak. Pasta was a pending unrestricted free agent. It took until the trade deadline to finish but it also takes 2 to tango and Pasta had leverage that Swayman does not.

I think people are reading a bit too much into the lack of a deal with Swayman. Yes, Sweeney has repeatedly said it's a priority. In reality though, it's not. He's restricted so there is no immediate urgency to get it done. The deadline has always been basically training camp. The offseason moves so quick, the team had to get through the draft and free agency, those were the priorities since those are hard decision making points and they couldn't wait around. They've had discussions with Swayman and thus have a ballpark of where it'll land so they could budget accordingly even if pen wasn't put to paper. It was not a necessity to get it done prior to free agency. On Swayman's end, yes he publicly said he was upset about what was said in arbitration. That's it though, he's never spoken a bad word about the franchise, city or management. Hell, he's working out at Warrior as we speak. If he wanted out, he's had a year to demand a trade.

 

[katnado]

I think people are reading a bit too much into the lack of a deal with Swayman. Yes, Sweeney has repeatedly said it's a priority. In reality though, it's not. He's restricted so there is no immediate urgency to get it done. The deadline has always been basically training camp. The offseason moves so quick, the team had to get through the draft and free agency, those were the priorities since those are hard decision making points and they couldn't wait around. They've had discussions with Swayman and thus have a ballpark of where it'll land so they could budget accordingly even if pen wasn't put to paper. It was not a necessity to get it done prior to free agency. On Swayman's end, yes he publicly said he was upset about what was said in arbitration. That's it though, he's never spoken a bad word about the franchise, city or management. Hell, he's working out at Warrior as we speak. If he wanted out, he's had a year to demand a trade.

So I will preface this by saying I haven't talked to Sway as he hasn't been back this summer yet like he normally is and we see him on the river or around the rinks, where he's always happy to shoot the crap with fans, but his dad has made it very clear to anyone that asks that he absolutely loves the city of Boston and very much wants to stay a Bruin and sign long term. Obviously money talks, but from talking to his family I have zero concern that he wants to leave Boston.

 

[Dewey's 'stache]

Kastelic is 56% in draws for his career; Boqvist is 36%. He’s also a better forechecker and brings a bit more of the rough stuff. This gives them a bit more flexibility on the 4th line as they have 2 good face off guys, Beecher a lefty and Kastelic a righty.

Ok, I guess I was fixated on his speed and knack for a big play, but 56% vs 36% on face-offs is gigantic and prevents a lot of uphill skating. Thanks for the response and info, I appreciate it.

 

[FullaPoloni]

Bruins draft pick Cole Spicer pausing hockey career (boston.com)

 

[TSC]

View: https://twitter.com/shawnhutcheon/status/1825678062941339753?s=46


I’d love for my Blake Wheeler jersey to be relevant again. No idea if he works for the 2024-25 Bruins, though.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Man that feels like yesterday and also a hundred years ago at the same time.

 

[cshea]

I believe Wheeler, Seguin and Marchand are the only active NHL players remaining from the 2011 team. Played 55 games last year with NYR but suffered a leg injury in February that essentially ended his season (he made 1 appearance in the playoffs). Not sure what he has left in the tank.

Yamamoto is a smurfy winger, only 5'8" 153 lbs. Former first round draft pick by the Oilers, played last year in Seattle. He's 25 with 300 NHL games played. He did score 20 once with the Oilers (probably played with McDavid and/or Draisaitl but I didn't look to confirm).

RW is the weakest spot on the roster and they're mostly banking on the kids. It would make sense to bring in a couple of veterans on a PTO to compete instead of just handing it straight out to Lysell.

Zacha- Lindholm - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - ?
Frederic - Poitras - Geekie
Jones - Beecher - Kastelic

Then figure out the RW vacancy and 13th F between Brazeau, Lysell, Merkulov and any PTO's.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Yamamoto is a high energy guy who unfortunately doesn't see his energy or hard work result in a decent number of goals, likely due to lack of size. I'd be glad to see him here on a PTO to see if they can figure out a way to use him.

I'd be happy if Wheeler were brought back too.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I believe Wheeler, Seguin and Marchand are the only active NHL players remaining from the 2011 team. Played 55 games last year with NYR but suffered a leg injury in February that essentially ended his season (he made 1 appearance in the playoffs). Not sure what he has left in the tank.

Yamamoto is a smurfy winger, only 5'8" 153 lbs. Former first round draft pick by the Oilers, played last year in Seattle. He's 25 with 300 NHL games played. He did score 20 once with the Oilers (probably played with McDavid and/or Draisaitl but I didn't look to confirm).

RW is the weakest spot on the roster and they're mostly banking on the kids. It would make sense to bring in a couple of veterans on a PTO to compete instead of just handing it straight out to Lysell.

Zacha- Lindholm - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - ?
Frederic - Poitras - Geekie
Jones - Beecher - Kastelic

Then figure out the RW vacancy and 13th F between Brazeau, Lysell, Merkulov and any PTO's.

As a 5’8” 155 lb man, I am mildly insulted.

 

[bsl394]

Shawn Hutcheon

@ShawnHutcheon

Sources close to the situation tell me that while talks are ongoing, as of today (8/22/2024), the #NHLBruins and Jeremy Swayman are far apart in contract term (length) and dollar amount.

 

[Gammon_Clark]

Shawn Hutcheon
@ShawnHutcheon

Sources close to the situation tell me that while talks are ongoing, as of today (8/22/2024), the #NHLBruins and Jeremy Swayman are far apart in contract term (length) and dollar amount.

I read (sorry I do not have the link available) that Sway is looking for 10 per. Yikes!
I am curious how much is negotiating (ask super high, land on high) or how much could be how soured and angry/upset he was over thearbitration experience.

At any rate, I love Sway and wish him the best regardless and hope the two sides find common ground.

Edit: found the link:

https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/bruins/keefe-jeremy-swayman-looking-for-usd10-million-a-year

 

[The Napkin]

View: https://twitter.com/_TyAnderson/status/1828237176980799934

 

[The Mort Report]

Yeah when I saw that $10 mil number I immediately thought that's just someone trying to stir engagement up. The team obviously knows where Sway stands, and if this was true I think the offseason would have gone differently. The team is only around $8.5 mil in space now, and I also wonder if Sway would have been the one traded instead if the team felt he wasn't going to budge.

Side note, rookie camp is only 16 days away(11th), full camp 23(18th)! Almost time for that preseason thread!

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Why would EEI lie?

 

[katnado]

Why would EEI lie?

It was Keefe on the morning show claiming his sources said 10 million was Swayman's ask. That was it. This is the same guy that says no NHL or Bruins beat writers will talk to him. So he's most likely talking out of his ass for clicks.

 

[Gammon_Clark]

It was Keefe on the morning show claiming his sources said 10 million was Swayman's ask. That was it. This is the same guy that says no NHL or Bruins beat writers will talk to him. So he's most likely talking out of his ass for clicks.

Ugh…. I’m sorry I fell for it.

 

[cshea]

FWIW, I don't think $10 million is an outrageous ask.

Vasilevsky got $9.5 million AAV as an RFA in 2020 at the same age Swayman is now. When Vasilevsky signed the contract it was 11.66% of the cap. Adjusting for the rise in cap, 11.66% of the cap today is about $10.2 million. Vasy was more accomplished and had played more games than Swayman has so I think Swayman will come in a little less but I'm expecting around $9 million or thereabouts.

 

[joe dokes]

There's nothing wrong with relating an "ask" number. Its the lack of context as to "that's how negotiations work." There are probably close to zero negotiated contracts where one side says, "I want this" or "We offer you this," the other side says, "OK. Done." OTOH--People don't get employed by "sports" radio for assuming that its listeners know how the world works.