That demon life has got me in its Sway, man

Myt1

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I mean, if that’s true, then that’s a fucking clownshoes way to do business. Maybe it’s not, though.
 

TSC

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My guess? Swaymans agent never brought him that number and Neely blew up his spot.

Wouldn’t be the first time this agent did something similar (Nylander, Gaudreau with Calgary).
 

Rosey Ruzicka

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Lewis gross sending that message “to defend his client” makes it seem like he is the liar and didn’t share the offer with sway to hold out for more money.
 

joe dokes

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My guess? Swaymans agent never brought him that number and Neely blew up his spot.

Wouldn’t be the first time this agent did something similar (Nylander, Gaudreau with Calgary).
Eagleson and Orr is the most famous case.
 

cshea

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I know Cam is known for his temper but he seemed pretty calculated at the press conference. I didn’t think the comment was spur of the moment with frustration boiling over. The number was pretty specific, I don’t think he pulled it out of his ass. Kinda wish the camera panned out to see Sweeney s reaction when he said it. And if they are actually below $64 million, doesn’t that basically set the minimum for what the contract has to be?
 

Cotillion

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I’ve always been a one to say Players hire the agents they want. So if Swayman wants to go this route, it’s what he wants unless he comes out and states otherwise.

This is the time when we find out if Swayman’s agent is doing his bidding or not.
 

TFP

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I know Cam is known for his temper but he seemed pretty calculated at the press conference. I didn’t think the comment was spur of the moment with frustration boiling over. The number was pretty specific, I don’t think he pulled it out of his ass. Kinda wish the camera panned out to see Sweeney s reaction when he said it. And if they are actually below $64 million, doesn’t that basically set the minimum for what the contract has to be?
I saw a wide shot view and no one reacted. The Bruins history plays in their favor here, they never do this, and I don't think it was something off the cuff. Swayman's ONLY leverage in all of this is through the media, and they cut that right off. It's very smart from a tactical perspective, but the question is if it's a good idea strategically or if it will poison the well with Swayman himself. But clearly they think he's not getting the info from the agent.

I think getting Swayman in a room (with the agent) and just hammering it out is the best way to make it happen.
 

cshea

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I saw a wide shot view and no one reacted. The Bruins history plays in their favor here, they never do this, and I don't think it was something off the cuff. Swayman's ONLY leverage in all of this is through the media, and they cut that right off. It's very smart from a tactical perspective, but the question is if it's a good idea strategically or if it will poison the well with Swayman himself. But clearly they think he's not getting the info from the agent.

I think getting Swayman in a room (with the agent) and just hammering it out is the best way to make it happen.
Agreed. I think their history of paying players market value works in their favor too. I know he was unrestricted but they made Pastrnak one of the highest paid players in the league. Ditto for McAvoy who was an RFA.
 

Myt1

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Lewis gross sending that message “to defend his client” makes it seem like he is the liar and didn’t share the offer with sway to hold out for more money.
How? Like, I get that you might think that. It might even be true. But how does sending that message make it seem like he’s the liar?
 

Salem's Lot

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They should just trade him. The relationship is beyond repair at this point. Might as well get something for him.
 

bsl394

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They should just trade him. The relationship is beyond repair at this point. Might as well get something for him.
What can they even get for him? How many teams have 9/10M in cap space? Utah, SJ, Calgary, Anaheim, Columbus? How many of them have something the Bruins want?
 

TSC

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What can they even get for him? How many teams have 9/10M in cap space? Utah, SJ, Calgary, Anaheim, Columbus? How many of them have something the Bruins want?
The Ducks have the cap space, the need, and the prospects to potentially make something work.

It’s also drastically closer to Alaska than Boston so maybe Swayman is more than happy to sign there.

Try and get someone like Beckett Sennecke out of them? He fits the Bruins needs (RW, size).
 

jk333

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Can’t the Bruins play hardball until December 1 and offer a short 2 year contract that gives them more time to trade Swayman? There isn’t a period where they can’t trade him after signing him? It doesn’t seem to me like they could get a fair offer for him unsigned but who knows. Maybe if another team has a high end young player they’re looking to move.

Beckett Sennecke seems too valuable for Swayman to me but he would be great value. All the above is assuming contract things are going as badly behind the scenes as they seem to be in public/media. A long term deal is best for both sides.
 

lexrageorge

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The leverage the Bruins have is that Swayman throws away $8M-$9M come 12/1. I see no reason for the Bruins to throw away that leverage with a rushed trade for scraps and low end draft capital. If it comes to it, they could trade him in the offseason when more teams have the cap space. At this point, who cares Gross gets pissed off; the guy is not negotiating in good faith anyway, and this isn't the NBA where agent relationships matter.
 

Gammon_Clark

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Christmas has come early! I wake up to see that the Bruins are shooting straight and Swayman may not be getting all the information from his agent.

Either this completely erupts or a deal is done before the end of the week. I believe a deal will be done by the end of this week.
 

RSN Diaspora

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Christmas has come early! I wake up to see that the Bruins are shooting straight and Swayman may not be getting all the information from his agent.
I mean, the scenario of Sway’s agent sitting on an offer makes a lot of sense, but going back to the Harry Sinden days, I can’t remember a time when the Bruins front office was incapable of fucking up a bowl of cold cereal.
 

IdiotKicker

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I mean, the scenario of Sway’s agent sitting on an offer makes a lot of sense, but going back to the Harry Sinden days, I can’t remember a time when the Bruins front office was incapable of fucking up a bowl of cold cereal.
Except that they really haven't been this way for the past decade. They have paid their top-end talent as such, and have generally done so without much getting out into the public. I think when considering the track record of the Sweeney era, I tend to give the team the benefit of the doubt here.
 

cshea

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The B's would be lucky to get a 3rd, a trade is the last resort
This isn't going to happen. He's a restricted free agent and the minimun compensation for the Bruins in a trade will be the compensation level for whatever contract he signs. If it's in the $8 million AAV range, it's 1st, 2nd and 3rd. If it's above $9.1 million it is 2 1sts, 2nd, 3rd. Above ~$11.5+ it is 4 first round picks.

This is why I think a trade is unlikely. Even if he demands a trade, the Bruins aren't going to just give him away to settle it and they have clear markers to indicate trade value. If a team comes and says "we'll give you a 3rd" the Bruins hang up, it's better for them to wait for Swayman to sign an offer sheet.
 

Salem's Lot

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They should just trade him. The relationship is beyond repair at this point. Might as well get something for him.
Just to clarify, I should have said trade him in the off-season if he doesn’t sign by 12/1 and sits out. @cshea and others are correct, a trade right now really is not feasible. I do think that the relationship is beyond repair, and that’s probably where this is headed. Good news is that they will have plenty of cap space at the deadline.
 

Zososoxfan

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At this point, I just hope that IF he does sign an extension with the Bs (my strong preference), that they can bury this and move on. Sway's a fun player to root for.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Except that they really haven't been this way for the past decade. They have paid their top-end talent as such, and have generally done so without much getting out into the public. I think when considering the track record of the Sweeney era, I tend to give the team the benefit of the doubt here.
Same. I am getting flashbacks to the Sinden battles with Dafoe and Raycroft Juneau and Moog, but the modern Bruins have generally changed that narrative and have gotten guys signed with little drama. My Sinden PTSD had me convinced they were going to fuck it up with Pasta, but that got done with no problem.
 

cshea

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At this point, I just hope that IF he does sign an extension with the Bs (my strong preference), that they can bury this and move on. Sway's a fun player to root for.
We'll see how Swayman reacts to this. Throughout the whole process he has maintained his desire to be in Boston long term. He's said all the right things about being here.

That said he's a chip on the shoulder kind of guy and his Boston journey has been bumpy at times. We all know he was unhappy with the arbitration process last year and what the team said about him in the hearing. Two years ago, when he was in his 2nd season, he made 16 starts from October-January with a .918 save percentage and was the best goalie on the team. Despite that, the team sent him to Providence to facilitate Rask's return. It ultimately didn't last long as Rask only made 4 appearances before hanging them up but Swayman voiced his displeasure at the demotion.

I think ultimately cooler heads will prevail and the extension will get done and this whole thing will be put in the rearview mirror but I could see a scenario where he decides the organization has had it out for him and he wants to move on elsewhere.
 

cshea

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Cam going on Felger and Mazz later today does not bode well for cooler heads prevailing.
Is he really? He hasn't done that in a long, long time since they got into a heated battle years ago. I can't remember what they were arguing about that time. It was like the John Henry appearance.

That said, F&M are firmly on the Bruins side so they'll try to get them to kick Swayman some more but it won't get contentuous between them and Cam.
 

moretsyndrome

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Is he really? He hasn't done that in a long, long time since they got into a heated battle years ago. I can't remember what they were arguing about that time. It was like the John Henry appearance.

That said, F&M are firmly on the Bruins side so they'll try to get them to kick Swayman some more but it won't get contentuous between them and Cam.
Wow, yeah, I remember listening to that back when I had a commute. Don't listen much anymore, but I don't think he's been on since, so I'll definitely tune in this afternoon.
 

cshea

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The $7.8 AAV aligns with Friedman's story from last night. Friedman reported that he didn't think the Bruins had gone to $64 million but were close, $60-$62 million and that Cam was probably getting the Bruins final,max offer out there. He thought Gross/Swayman weren't that upset with the actual number Cam said. They were upset about the tactics and coordinated attack press conference.

That said, Friedman's report said he heard the gap to start was in the millions per season.

Despite that, the two sides remain so far apart on salary that this won’t be solved unless player or team completely caves in or changes their minds. I’ve heard some softening of positions, but the gap was millions per season to start with.
That jives with Seravalli's Bruins at $6.5 million; Swayman at $8.5 million. That's millions per year apart. However, Friedman reporting that they "remain so far apart on salary" doesn't jive with Seravalli saying Swayman is at $8.5 and the Bruins $7.8. Maybe it's semantics and how you want to define the gap, but $700K/year doesn't seem "so far apart" as Friedman put it.
 

Gammon_Clark

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See? Christmas came early.

PSK is correct, the wheels have been sufficiently greased. Pay him 8.25 or 8.3 so you don’t feel you caved. Sway should be happy with that and relieved he won’t have to deal with this process again for a long time. I’m so excited to see this get done and cannot wait for the start of the season!!
 

kenneycb

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I dunno, money has a way of
The $7.8 AAV aligns with Friedman's story from last night. Friedman reported that he didn't think the Bruins had gone to $64 million but were close, $60-$62 million and that Cam was probably getting the Bruins final,max offer out there. He thought Gross/Swayman weren't that upset with the actual number Cam said. They were upset about the tactics and coordinated attack press conference.

That said, Friedman's report said he heard the gap to start was in the millions per season.



That jives with Seravalli's Bruins at $6.5 million; Swayman at $8.5 million. That's millions per year apart. However, Friedman reporting that they "remain so far apart on salary" doesn't jive with Seravalli saying Swayman is at $8.5 and the Bruins $7.8. Maybe it's semantics and how you want to define the gap, but $700K/year doesn't seem "so far apart" as Friedman put it.
Lol boo hoo. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. He's been using coordinated tactics to negotiate in public all offseason.

Fucking goalies, man.
 

The B’s Knees

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Sounds like it's close enough that the two parties can find a sweet spot.

My initial worry was that Neely misspoke and had meant to say "...6.4 million reasons why I'd be playing now" ;)
 

The Napkin

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I dunno, money has a way of

Lol boo hoo. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. He's been using coordinated tactics to negotiate in public all offseason.

Fucking goalies, man.
I would love to know how much of that "they" is Swayman and how much is Gross. It's not like it would be the first time Gross would have done something a little hinky that may not have been in the player's best interest
 

kenneycb

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I would love to know how much of that "they" is Swayman and how much is Gross. It's not like it would be the first time Gross would have done something a little hinky that may not have been in the player's best interest
Swayman gave some interview where he talked about doing a lot more legwork this year - learning about comps, taking business courses, and wanting to set the market for goalies. I don't think he's a wallflower on this one.
 

burstnbloom

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This isn't going to happen. He's a restricted free agent and the minimun compensation for the Bruins in a trade will be the compensation level for whatever contract he signs. If it's in the $8 million AAV range, it's 1st, 2nd and 3rd. If it's above $9.1 million it is 2 1sts, 2nd, 3rd. Above ~$11.5+ it is 4 first round picks.

This is why I think a trade is unlikely. Even if he demands a trade, the Bruins aren't going to just give him away to settle it and they have clear markers to indicate trade value. If a team comes and says "we'll give you a 3rd" the Bruins hang up, it's better for them to wait for Swayman to sign an offer sheet.
Anything over 5 years is calculated at 5, so they take total dollars for an 8 years and divide by 5 instead of 8 - so it would be 4 first rounders at 8x8. You're right, It's never going to happen.