First off I want to preface this by saying, I hope this negotiation get resolved and Swayman is signed to a contract keeping him in Boston for several years and that Swayman becomes everything we hope he will be and more so that everyone is happy.
Hypothetical scenario here:
Let's assume Boston began negotiations with an offer of 6.4m per yr. Let's assume that is the opening offer and let's also assume Boston has a line drawn as a cap figure per yr they will not cross with Swayman.
Let's also assume that Swayman's camp began negotiations with a request of 9 or 10 mil per yr ... wanting to take into consideration unrealized player potential, escalating league cap structure, and a desire to be paid as one of the top goalies in the league.
At 6.4 Boston's offer would place Swayman at 5th or 6th highest paid active goalies currently. Swayman camp wants more. Boston obviously can not pay Swayman 9 or 10 mil without drastically altering the the depth, structure, and possibly core of the team.
In such a scenario something has to give.
Swayman most likely is going to want to earn an income this year. Boston is going to want to have stable depth at goalie this year and going forward.
Boston will have to raise their offer, Swayman's camp will have to reduce their demands - compromise.
Hypothetically, let's say Boston's max offer is 8.4 mil per for 8 years. Swayman should take it because NHL contracts are basically guaranteed money even if he falls flat on his face. The vanity aspect of wanting to be paid as one of the highest paid goalies in the league should survive through out the eight years even with the cap going up. At least two of the active goalies now making more than that amount will retire during that time frame. And then there is the question of how many goalies in the league are currently qualified or in a position to make more during that time frame? Not very many ... maybe 2 possibly 3?
Swayman with such an offer is not being punished, he is being rewarded for a promise of what might be all while being paid amongst the highest paid goalies in the league. Swayman stats look good, but in reality he has accomplished nothing out of the ordinary that many other goalies have also accomplished. There is a real possibility that this last spring's playoff performance might be the best that Swayman ever plays as a player in the NHL. There is also the risk Boston would be taking that Swayman doesn't turn into Raycroft when traded to Toronto or become like many other goalies who once looked promising but flamed out. If Boston were to offer that much he should take the money and run. Lastly, at the end of the 8 yrs if he plays well he would still be in a position to cash in again.
Otherwise, there is possibly a local car dealership that could use a salesman or a local grocery that needs a bagger. Hell, I wish I was offered 6.4 mil for 8 yrs to play a game I love.
