Player Discussion Jeremy Swayman: VII- Swayman's agent basically calls Cam a liar

[smithformeragent]

@Gee Wally

We have numerous deletions and more in here. We know tension and emotions are high.
But you folks must simply stop taking personal shots at each. Stay to topic.

If not we will be left with no choice other than adding thread bans.

BOSTON — Boston Bruins president Cam Neely suggested Monday that the team has made an eight-year offer to unsigned restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman at $8 million annually.

“I don’t want to get into the weeds with what his ask is,” Neely said at a news conference at TD Garden. “But I know that I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.”

Neely did not disclose what Swayman’s ask has been but said he was surprised by it.

So far, Swayman is holding firm to his demand. It aligns with his personality of not backing down, especially following his uncomfortable 2023 arbitration hearing. According to Neely, Swayman wants to set a new market for goalies, specifically ones under team control.

“What his ask is and what we believe his comp group is,” Neely said, “are two different things.”

General manager Don Sweeney said he remains in contact with Lewis Gross, Swayman’s agent. The Bruins are not interested in trading Swayman.

“Ultimately, we’re a better team, as I’ve said all along, if Jeremy is part of our hockey club,” Sweeney said. “That’s my intention. That’s my wish. I’ll continue to work to do that. I think Jeremy and the team are both hurt in this regard. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll continue to work hard to find a settling point.”

With only three preseason games left, it is likely Swayman will miss regular-season time, even if an agreement is pending. Coach Jim Montgomery designated Joonas Korpisalo as his goalie for the regular-season opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 8, regardless of Swayman’s situation. The Bruins have two full practices remaining in camp.

“Where we are in camp right now, with how well camp has gone and how well Korpisalo has done,” Montgomery said, “right now, he’s going to be our Game 1 starter.”

How good is the offer?​

Swayman would become the fifth-highest-paid goalie in the NHL under the Bruins’ offer, behind Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck and Ilya Sorokin. Only Vasilevskiy ($9.5 million average annual value) signed his contract as a pending restricted free agent. The others were due to become unrestricted.

It is a significant payday for Swayman, considering he has never been a regular-season No. 1 goalie.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5806291/2024/09/30/bruins-cam-neely-jeremy-swayman/

Click to read more...

 

[SwayHeyKid]

If Swayman’s agent is saying they didn’t make that offer instead he should have just said we accept the 64 million reasons in his own presser lol

they want 9

 

[ae530]

Trade him after Dec 1

 

[SwayHeyKid]

Wild stuff from this kid.

I mean can you even count the first two offers? They are horrible. 7.5 and 9.5. Settle at 8.5 move on. If neither side wants to do that then Swayman should request a trade and see what he can get somewhere else.

I’d go as far as 8.5 today to end this. I would have been fine with 9 or a little more before it got ugly, but things have changed for me. I'd hate to see him traded but I can't help but wonder if that's where this is headed. Either way lets get on with whatever the outcome is here.

yeah agreed 100%.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Trade him after Dec 1

I would tell him, we will get back to you.

Let him sit ,his value to us in a trade will be next to zero anyway

 

[goldenblack]

Trading him is the worst possible option. Sit him till he fires his agent.

His agent has exactly one trick, and it's not a very good one. Push the prick to the limit and get him fired. For every other NHL team, show them how this is handled. SIT.

 

[danpantz]

This is going to drag to December 1 at least.

Unbelievable.

 

[mjhfb]

If Swayman signs right now, he's not going to be 100% ready for the season. It might take him 10-20 games before he gets up to speed. This holdup is not doing anyone favors.

True. I'm curious how he handles his return. I'm not so much concerned with the physical aspect as much as the mental part, depending how all this unfolds and who is eventually determined the "bad guy". Goaltending is 90% mental and he'll need his head screwed on straight when returning to win people over and show them that all this was worth it.

 

[Grimey]

I mean can you even count the first two offers? They are horrible. 7.5 and 9.5. Settle at 8.5 move on. If neither side wants to do that then Swayman should request a trade and see what he can get somewhere else.


yeah agreed 100%.

They (team) always starts low and players/agents start high. Yes you should count the first two. It’s a starting point.

Also I would laugh my ass off if he gets traded to a team that only offers him 4x$6.2M and refuses to budge.

 

[McGarnagle]

Have there been any examples of negotiations this acrimonious that ended up working out for everyone in the end? Where the player and team come to an agreement and performance on the ice lives up to the contact?

Feels like there's going to be a dark cloud even if they end up signing a deal. Like the first with have Swayman has, the fans will be on him because of the contract, or if it comes to the deadline and we can't add a depth piece we need because we were a quarter-million too high on the cap, there will be snark.

 

[RoccoF14]

They (team) always starts low and players/agents start high. Yes you should count the first two. It’s a starting point.

Also I would laugh my ass off if he gets traded to a team that only offers him 4x$6.2M and refuses to budge.

I could forsee a scenario where we traded him and he accepted a lower offer from the new team. Not significantly lower, but slightly lower just to stick it to our Front Office.

Sadly, I think emotions have soured to this point.

 

[RoccoF14]

True. I'm curious how he handles his return. I'm not so much concerned with the physical aspect as much as the mental part, depending how all this unfolds and who is eventually determined the "bad guy". Goaltending is 90% mental and he'll need his head screwed on straight when returning to win people over and show them that all this was worth it.

I'm 100% expecting some type of minor muscle injury once he returns. Groin, hip flexor....whatever. Flexibility is such a huge part of that position and I just don't think his body will be game ready coming back cold...

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

At this point give Gross the green light to talk to other teams. If someone’s willing to pay, work out a trade.
If nobodies willing to pay what he wants… well there ya go

 

[Grimey]

I could forsee a scenario where we traded him and he accepted a lower offer from the new team. Not significantly lower, but slightly lower just to stick it to our Front Office.

Sadly, I think emotions have soured to this point.

I don’t know. I can’t see a guy holding out for close to $72M taking less, over-emotional or not.

 

[SwayHeyKid]

They (team) always starts low and players/agents start high. Yes you should count the first two. It’s a starting point.

Also I would laugh my ass off if he gets traded to a team that only offers him 4x$6.2M and refuses to budge.

It really isn't. They are offering Hellebuyck money from SIX seasons ago. It's a lame attempt to try to keep the final number down,

Seems like both have drawn the line in the sand over 500k. Can't see Swayman coming down 12 mil over the life of the deal if he truly feels he is worth 9.5 mil. Both parties in three or four months have moved 500k (not counting the ridiculous first two offers) EF raised a good point if Swayman would even be happy playing at 8-8.5 mil, and if you don't think so you move him.

 

[Grimey]

It really isn't. They are offering Hellebuyck money from SIX seasons ago. It's a lame attempt to try to keep the final number down,

Seems like both have drawn the line in the sand over 500k. Can't see Swayman coming down 12 mil over the life of the deal if he truly feels he is worth 9.5 mil. Both parties in three or four months have moved 500k (not counting the ridiculous first two offers) EF raised a good point if Swayman would even be happy playing at 8-8.5 mil, and if you don't think so you move him.

Yes or no question: were the following offers higher than the first two?

 

[SwayHeyKid]

I could forsee a scenario where we traded him and he accepted a lower offer from the new team. Not significantly lower, but slightly lower just to stick it to our Front Office.

Sadly, I think emotions have soured to this point.

one million percent. I could easily see him taking 4/30 say from someone. Seems like Swayman's worth to himself is more than they are willing to pay. It also seems like Swayman is finally important to the Bruins coming up to 8.

 

[Bruins4Lifer]

Wonder if the Bruins just sit tight on the 8x $8M offer and see how it goes.
It might have to go all the way to Dec 1, but Swayman eventually signs a deal they have in front of him. Swayman not playing in the NHL this year is the biggest risk either side faces here, IMO.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

At this point give Gross the green light to talk to other teams. If someone’s willing to pay, work out a trade.
If nobodies willing to pay what he wants… well there ya go

He doesn’t need permission to negotiate with other teams. He can do that now if he wants.

 

[goldenblack]

Btw I submit to you that the second the Bruins or anyone make it known that a trade is possible, THEN, he's gone.

You can't do that, if you still have hopes of keeping him. That only happens when it's dead dead.

 

[SwayHeyKid]

Yes or no question: were the following offers higher than the first two?

yes of course. Just like if Swayman started at 10.5 or 11 that would be equally as ridiculous as sub 7.

 

[goldenblack]

Wonder if the Bruins just sit tight on the 8x $8M offer and see how it goes.
It might have to go all the way to Dec 1, but Swayman eventually signs a deal they have in front of him. Swayman not playing in the NHL this year is the biggest risk either side faces here, IMO.

What's crazy is a human feeling 8x8 was a loss, in this spot. Specially when it's only a 1.5M move off a number that was total lunacy to begin with.

Ego is a real son of a

 

[SwayHeyKid]

Wonder if the Bruins just sit tight on the 8x $8M offer and see how it goes.
It might have to go all the way to Dec 1, but Swayman eventually signs a deal they have in front of him. Swayman not playing in the NHL this year is the biggest risk either side faces here, IMO.

I believe if push comes to shove and he can't work out an offer sheet he will take 8/64 on November 30th..

 

[MarsTBOW]

Sounds like Swayman wants Igor S. $....

 

[Gee Wally]

Ullmark & Shesterkin watching all this.

 

[SwayHeyKid]

I could forsee a scenario where we traded him and he accepted a lower offer from the new team. Not significantly lower, but slightly lower just to stick it to our Front Office.

Sadly, I think emotions have soured to this point.

Really seems like it right? I'm think if he had an offers he would have signed them by now with someone else. Could also see him signing something for less and the Bruins reading between the lines he doesn't want to be there and deal him. A team could give him 9 and the comp is only a 1-2-3. Crazy stuff