The Boston Bruins have returned to the ice for training camp, with just two weeks until the regular season kicks off. But it’s not without some drama, regarding Jeremy Swayman.
This summer, Bruins GM traded goalie Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Swede played 49 games in the 2022-23 season and 40 games last year, and everyone is expecting Jeremy Swayman to step up and be the Bruins’ star goalie in the upcoming season.
But the 25-year-old netminder hasn’t reported to training camp, as he and the Bruins are yet to agree on a new contract.
Boston holds Swayman’s rights as an RFA, and they have until Dec. 1 to agree on a deal if they want him to play this season. Swayman has the same agent as William Nylander, who was in the same situation as Swayman in Toronto a couple of years ago. That time, Nylander refused to play for the team until coming to terms, and it didn’t happen until Dec. 1. Now, many fear that Swayman will give Boston the same treatment.
It’s still uncertain how far away Swayman and Boston are in terms of negotiating, with reports claiming that Swayman wants a contract similar to Charlie McAvoy’s $9.5 million annually. But earlier this month, on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast with Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney, Whitney cited a ’reliable source’ that the Bruins offered a four-year deal worth $6.2 million yearly. He also added that Boston refused to answer Swayman’s call in three weeks.
The reports even had GM Don Sweeney calling out the podcast during a press conference.
”I think it’s bull-s—t that somebody says I wouldn’t return a call for three weeks,” Sweeney said. ”There. That’s inaccurate. Was it said? Was it written? I will tell you, I don’t listen to podcasts. My son loves Paul Bissonnette, thinks he’s fabulous. I think he’s a great entertainer.
”But at the end of the day, they’re inaccurate. And that’s OK because that’s all part of the business nowadays. It’s OK if you turn around and say it’s your opinion, your belief, but don’t report it as fact. That’s all. That’s all I’m asking.”
It took a few days, but now, the Spittin’ Chiclets crew, and especially Ryan Whitney, have finally responded to Sweeney’s harsh words.
”I stand by what I was told,” Whitney said.
”He’s gonna call me a liar, I think he’s fudging a little bit… Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle. But I knew the offer and it was a lowball, slap in the face offer and this is a players podcast.”
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Whitney also commented on the fact that Sweeney mentioned Paul Bissonnette’s name – and not his – when he talked about the matter last week.
”Now, I think Don Sweeney’s taking out his frustration on really fumble on f**king this entire negotiation on me a little bit and indirectly on you because he didn’t want to say my name… I just don’t understand not talking that long to a camp,” Whitney said.
Whitney also criticized how the Bruins have handled things this off-season, trading Ullmark before securing a new deal with Swayman, leaving them in a very vulnerable situation. The last hasn’t been said about the Bruins and Jeremy Swayman, that’s for sure.
Here’s Whitneys full comments:
