Neely on contract negotiations with Jeremy Swayman: “Something is being done”

Bruins

“I am firmly convinced that both sides will come to an agreement here in the not too distant future.”

The Bruins will officially open their training camp on September 18 at Warrior Ice Arena.

However, it remains to be seen whether Jeremy Swayman will still be there with the rest of his teammates when the entire team finally takes the ice.

After a dominant postseason with Boston this spring, Swayman has yet to sign a new contract with the Bruins. As a restricted free agent, Swayman is expected to receive a long contract extension with a raise above the $3.475 million salary cap he requested in 2023-24.

Signing Swayman may be the last item on the agenda for Don Sweeney and the Bruins, as Boston still has $9 million in remaining salary cap space (according to @BruinsCapSpace) in the current offseason.

Although Boston has the purchasing power to negotiate a hefty new contract for its franchise goaltender, neither the Bruins nor Swayman’s representatives have been able to negotiate a new contract.

The lack of any progress at this point in the summer could raise the blood pressure of Bruins fans hoping to see Swayman in the black and gold jersey long-term.

But Bruins president and Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely is not worried about the current contract crisis between the team and Swayman’s camp.

“Something will be done. There’s no doubt about it,” Neely said Thursday during an appearance on WZLX’s “Rich Shertenlieb Show.” “I mean, not every negotiation goes as smoothly as you would hope. I know our fans would certainly appreciate something being done now. But I’m absolutely confident that both sides will come to an agreement here in the not too distant future.”

Neely’s comments echo Swayman’s own sentiments last week regarding contract negotiations.

“There’s a lot of confidence,” Swayman said during an appearance on the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund radio telethon last week. “And I say that because I’ve approached it like I normally do this year. I’ve been at Warrior, I’ve been working out with our guys, our staff, our players. And I know there’s something special developing in that locker room this year, and I couldn’t be more excited about that.”

“I know that with time it will take care of itself. The only thing I can control is how I become a better goalie for the Boston Bruins this year. That’s what I’m focused on. And I know it will happen again. I couldn’t be happier to be a Bruin.”

Swayman could receive an annual payout of at least $7.5 million to $8 million per season going forward – especially since the 25-year-old goalie will take the top spot on Boston’s roster following the trade of Linus Ullmark to Ottawa in June.

His reputation continued to grow after dominating the postseason. In 12 playoff games for the Bruins against Toronto and Florida, Swayman posted a .933 save percentage.

With 13.3 goals saved above expected, he led all other goaltenders during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (according to MoneyPuck), despite only appearing in two rounds total.

“I love it (in Boston) and that’s all I can control and I know that,” Swayman told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson on Sunday. “I have complete faith in my agent and I know it will work out eventually.”

While there are still some question marks about Swayman’s ability to handle the heavy workload that comes with being the undisputed No. 1 goalie, signing a young goaltender like Swayman is the most logical path forward as the Bruins look to build a new core of top talent.

“Jeremy only played 44 games in a regular season, which is still significant,” Neely acknowledged. “But it’s not 60 or 65 (games). And Linus, you know, those two certainly helped us set the records that we’ve set over the last few years. They’re both great goalies.”

“Jeremy is a focused and determined guy and has a lot of confidence. And he’s obviously his age, so we thought we would go with Jeremy. Linus has done so much for the organization, both on and off the ice, he’s a great person, but we thought we probably wouldn’t re-sign him, so it was best to move him.”