Arbitration is not a bridge deal. No one on either side looks at it that way. A bridge deal is not determined by a 3rd party.
Pasta and Mac had exceptional years for their age prior to signing their 2nd full, no arbitrated contracts.
Swayman want to jump the line, in the name of martyring for future young goalies. He and his agent are intent on resetting how much of a % a young potential star's salary takes up of the cap.
Swayman is a star in the making. 1 All Star game, and a fade off, 2 rounds of PO's and a 1 7th place Vezina finish does not make a star.
The B's run a business and with Jacobs being a NHL Governor, I doubt this is the team to reset the standard % a young goalie gets, with a great, but limited resume.
The B's risk alienating a core, home grown talent. Swayman risks going down a road that many don't recover from. Lost years, lost wages, a reputation of being difficult to deal with over $$. I remember Dafoe holding out and getting hurt when he came back. He was never the same. I also remember quite a few premature Boston big contracts across all 4 major sports, that killed building a full roster.(B's included)
These are all truths. That being said, he is a fantastic talent that still has little more to prove. A 4 year deal with the expectation that a hefty extension will be negotiated in Year 3.
Or a 6 year deal with salaries of 6.5M x 2, 8.5M x 2, and 10.5M x 2. The only year the cap should hurt us from adding is this year.