Player Discussion Jeremy Swayman

[Fingertools]

Completely blows my mind how many posters on here still vehemently defend Swayman. Would people think differently if his GAA was 4, 5, 6? At what point is the criticism valid for these people?

When Swayman is bad for the same number of games (and years) as he was good - I don't deny the bad year he is having, as is the whole team this year, but the fact is Swayman has been a good goalie his whole professional (and amateur) career before this year - one year, as disastrous as it is, does not make him a bad goalie - especially when you're playing behind an AHL talent level team and defence.

 

[Sheppy]

It’s not even like Swayman is under siege for insane amounts of shots against. He’s having these blow up games facing 20-25 shots.

I’m willing to write this season off for him, but if he comes out next year looking the way he has this year… fire him to the sun.

 

[BruinDust]

You see, I do care about the contract he has and the money he’s getting to play terribly.

Are you upset at the 8 million Elias Lindholm stole from the Bruins this year?

As a fan, I'm far more upset at the money they gave players from OUTSIDE the organization to come here and play like dog-shit. Taking care of your own guys I can live with.

Elias Lindholm takes the Bruins to the cleaners on July 1st and fans are fine with that. One of their own guys negotiates harder to get what he feels he can and somehow that's a problem. It's a business yet there seems to be some sort of double-standard for fans when it comes to RFAs vs. UFAs. If I had a nickel for every time I read on this board that RFAs got zero leverage I could retire. There is always leverage.

 

[bp14]

When Swayman is bad for the same number of games (and years) as he was good - I don't deny the bad year he is having, as is the whole team this year, but the fact is Swayman has been a good goalie his whole professional (and amateur) career before this year - one year, as disastrous as it is, does not make him a bad goalie - especially when you're playing behind an AHL talent level team and defence.

I don’t think he’s a bad goalie. I think this is a terrible year for him. I suspect he will be much better next year and going forward and will likely earn that contract.

But I think it’s fair to wonder about that. And I also think it’s fair to rake him over the coals for this year because he held out AND he hasn’t just been bad, he’s been a sieve.

 

[Absurdity]

I don't think the issue is with Swayman getting the bag last offseason. Whether we like it or not, he signed for a deal that contractually made sense for a young goaltender set to become a #1G with the cap increasing.

I do think some here and on the team may feel like Swayman negotiating in public was the wrong move. Then there's missing all preseason. All of that could have been swept under the rug if he performed this season, but whether it was an unrealistic ask or not, he hasn't. Then there's Zadorov's comments which kind of seemed like other guys on the team could have stepped up to fight instead of Swayman, and maybe he should focus more on stopping pucks to keep his team into the game.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but from everything that has happened, one could conclude that Swayman is more of a me-type player than a team player.

 

[Sheppy]

Are you upset at the 8 million Elias Lindholm stole from the Bruins this year?

As a fan, I'm far more upset at the money they gave players from OUTSIDE the organization to come here and play like dog-shit. Taking care of your own guys I can live with.

Elias Lindholm takes the Bruins to the cleaners on July 1st and fans are fine with that. One of their own guys negotiates harder to get what he feels he can and somehow that's a problem. It's a business yet there seems to be some sort of double-standard for fans when it comes to RFAs vs. UFAs. If I had a nickel for every time I read on this board that RFAs got zero leverage I could retire. There is always leverage.

He's been bad too. I've been very critical of that contract as well. Initially I was looking forward to seeing what he could do for this team, but he's getting paid far too much. Lindholm has the 84th highest AAV for skaters, and yes, it doesn't look good right now in that regard. I don't think there are many people in here who are "fine" with Lindholms play this season.

Jeremy Swayman is the 4th highest paid goaltender in hockey (I'm not counting Price) - He's currently playing like an ECHL goaltender. He sits 45th in save percentage, and 46th in GAA. The players above him sit 1, 2 & 16th in SV% and 1,3 & 8 in GAA. There's 3 cups, 5 vezinas between Vasi & Bob. Sorokin with no hardware yet.

Now, are you fine with the contract Boston gave Swayman as it sits right now? I hope he can turn it around but he's been the drizzling shits all year.

 

[BruinDust]

He's been bad too. I've been very critical of that contract as well. Initially I was looking forward to seeing what he could do for this team, but he's getting paid far too much. Lindholm has the 84th highest AAV for skaters, and yes, it doesn't look good right now in that regard.

Jeremy Swayman is the 4th highest paid goaltender in hockey (I'm not counting Price) - He's currently playing like an ECHL goaltender. He sits 45th in save percentage, and 46th in GAA. The players above him sit 1, 2 & 16th in SV% and 1,3 & 8 in GAA.

Now, are you fine with the contract Boston gave Swayman as it sits right now?

Yes, I am fine with it. 100%. The team in front of him is awful. His confidence at this point has to be crushed and that's a big part of any players make-up. He's a young guy who hasn't faced a ton of adversity in his pro hockey career.

Carey Price in 2017-18 had putrid numbers. 16-26-7. GAA 3.15. SP% right on .900. Just signed that massive extension in July 2017. Was he all of a sudden a crappy goalie or was he just on an awful team? Habs finished 28th of 31 teams that year.

If I can find one complaint, its that sometimes Swayman needs to battle harder. A little less uber-technical and a bit more street hockey style. Maybe make a few more saves on the multitude of high danger chances he sees. Can't just always rely on angles and positioning to make saves.

Wouldn't hurt for the Bruins to actually spend some time in the other teams offensive zone. Usually a viable strategy for keeping your goaltender's numbers looking stronger. This Bruins team can't even get the puck past the opposition blue-line a lot of the time.

 

[Sheppy]

Yes, I am fine with it. 100%. The team in front of him is awful. His confidence at this point has to be crushed and that's a big part of any players make-up. He's a young guy who hasn't faced a ton of adversity in his pro hockey career.

Carey Price in 2017-18 had putrid numbers. 16-26-7. GAA 3.15. SP% right on .900. Just signed that massive extension in July 2017. Was he all of a sudden a crappy goalie or was he just on an awful team? Habs finished 28th of 31 teams that year.

If I can find one complaint, its that sometimes Swayman needs to battle harder. A little less uber-technical and a bit more street hockey style. Maybe make a few more saves on the multitude of high danger chances he sees. Can't just always rely on angles and positioning to make saves.

Wouldn't hurt for the Bruins to actually spend some time in the other teams offensive zone. Usually a viable strategy for keeping your goaltender's numbers looking stronger. This Bruins team can't even get the puck past the opposition blue-line a lot of the time.

The team in front of him has been awful, and so has he. If you're fine with the contract, all good, man. I'm not and never was.

Like I said, it's not like Swayman has been getting peppered for 40-45 shots a game. He's allowing these brutal 5 goal games on 20 shots. I could understand the inflated GAA if he was getting peppered night in and night out, but he isn't.

Jeremy Swayman is paid a tremendous amount of money to stop pucks, and he isn't.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Dipietro sequel. Historical disaster for the franchise

 

[Clint Eastwood]

That contract dispute to begin the year really set the tone for this team. I'm not saying him and his agent are to blame for the team being a pile of rubbish but that just seemed to be the first domino to fall for just a putrid season.

Hopefully he can bounce back next season and hopefully whichever coach we hire can implement an effective defensive system.

 

[BruinDust]

The team in front of him has been awful, and so has he. If you're fine with the contract, all good, man. I'm not and never was.

Like I said, it's not like Swayman has been getting peppered for 40-45 shots a game. He's allowing these brutal 5 goal games on 20 shots. I could understand the inflated GAA if he was getting peppered night in and night out, but he isn't.

But how many of those 20 shots are grade A chances? Point blank shots, one-timers, guys picking corners, tips and deflections. League average is only 28 shots a game, meanwhile shooting % league wide is at a salary-cap era high. I don't see him letting in a lot of bad goals in the heat of a competitive game. There have been a few blow-outs where you could see the frustration late in games and everything starts going in. He's had strong games as well, somehow 6th in the league in shutouts.

Play better defensively, spend more time in the offensive zone, his confidence will return and once they get him battling a bit harder to make a few more difficult saves off those high danger chances, he'll be fine.

 

[Sheppy]

But how many of those 20 shots are grade A chances? Point blank shots, one-timers, guys picking corners, tips and deflections. League average is only 28 shots a game, meanwhile shooting % league wide is at a salary-cap era high. I don't see him letting in a lot of bad goals in the heat of a competitive game. There have been a few blow-outs where you could see the frustration late in games and everything starts going in. He's had strong games as well, somehow 6th in the league in shutouts.

Play better defensively, spend more time in the offensive zone, his confidence will return and once they get him battling a bit harder to make a few more difficult saves off those high danger chances, he'll be fine.

Seems like you're chalking up his bad play because of everyone else. Listen, I agree with you that the defense hasn't been good. I'm willing to hold down the fort with you on that one. They haven't been good, but again, he hasn't either. It seems this year he's had far more bad games than good ones.

I also do see him letting in a lot of bad goals this season.

Again, he's not playing nearly as good as what you'd expect from someone who's paid the 4th most in the NHL among goaltenders. The defense has been bad this year, but at the end of the day, he's paid to stop the puck and he's done a piss poor job of doing so.

 

[goldenblack]

Some people in here said to pay him the 10. NEVER FORGET

 

[Forester65]

I'll take a bow.

Clearly Bruins should have let Sway holdout and gone into the season with Korpisalo and Bussi. But I don't remember any advocates for that scenario at the time.

I'll do the same. They sent Linus to Ottawa after alienating him with the LA debacle at the end of last year. They had no choice. On paper the team looked good enough to contend. They needed a starting-caliber goalie. Things sure went south.

 

[Forester65]

Last night Sway posted a save % of .696. His % for the year is .892. Some pretty gaudy numbers.
Have to admit the team in front of him is flawed but I have seen plenty of soft goals go in this season. He needs to forget about 'sticking up for team mates' like the Kuemper thing last night, and focus on the next shot.

 

[BruinDust]

Seems like you're chalking up his bad play because of everyone else. Listen, I agree with you that the defense hasn't been good. I'm willing to hold down the fort with you on that one. They haven't been good, but again, he hasn't either. It seems this year he's had far more bad games than good ones.

I also do see him letting in a lot of bad goals this season.

Again, he's not playing nearly as good as what you'd expect from someone who's paid the 4th most in the NHL among goaltenders. The defense has been bad this year, but at the end of the day, he's paid to stop the puck and he's done a piss poor job of doing so.

I agree with you on the bolded part. But ultimately whether he's getting paid 775k or 8.25 million, he's the Bruins main goaltender starting 65%-75% of their games. Their starting goalie playing poorly at 775k doesn't help the Bruins any more or less than playing poorly for 8.25 million.

Am I blaming everybody else? For the most part I am. Fully admit that. Between coaching, offense, defense and goaltending, the only one of the four I don't have an issue with is goaltending, including Korpisalo. Get those other 3 elements figured out, and the goaltending will fall into place. Bruins have a lot of work to do.

 

[Bruins4Lifer]

It's a good thing the Bruins didn't give up on Tim Thomas after a putrid 2006-07 season in which he appeared in 66 games and the Bruins finished 29th overall defensively with a GAA worse than this season.

Like Thomas, Swayman will be fine once the team in front of him starts playing better defensively. Two years after 2006-07 Thomas was winning Vezina's and Jennings Trophies, 4 years later adding Conn Smythe and Stanley Cups.

What really changed in that timeframe? The team in front of him vastly improved defensively. Most of that was due to coaching.

Thomas' .905 sv% was at least the league average that season. Swayman can't even manage that, it's pathetic.

Give him another year, pray this one was an aberration, and see what he and the rest of the team can do after an offseason reset and adding a new coach/system does for them.

 

[DKH]

Swayman has NO NMC clause in 25-26

was just looking cap wages

 

[DKH]

Thomas' .905 sv% was at least the league average that season. Swayman can't even manage that, it's pathetic.

Give him another year, pray this one was an aberration, and see what he and the rest of the team can do after an offseason reset and adding a new coach/system does for them.

Agree but his NMC kicks in 26-27

 

[jmon1313]

If anyone will take him without having to give up assets to get rid of him, you have to move him.

 

[BruinDust]

Last night Sway posted a save % of .696. His % for the year is .892. Some pretty gaudy numbers.
Have to admit the team in front of him is flawed but I have seen plenty of soft goals go in this season. He needs to forget about 'sticking up for team mates' like the Kuemper thing last night, and focus on the next shot.

Next time Swayman sees Kuemper, maybe he can ask him what it's like to go from a mediocre defensive team to a solid one.

Did Kuemper at age 34 all of sudden find a second wind? His numbers from Washington last year vs. LA this year are like night and day. His numbers last year were worse than Swayman's this year. This year for goalies with over 20 appearances he's 3rd in SP, 2nd in GAA.

Is Kuemper suddenly a new goaltender? I'm gonna say no. What changed? The players and systems in front of him.

You put Swayman on LA and his numbers are just as good if not better.

 

[Clode]

That answer from Zadorov is damning imo. Makes you wonder if Swayman is starting to wear out his welcome in the room a little bit.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Swayman will be given 4.5 month to prove himself next year. I'm 100% sure Sweeney and Neely would consider any reasonable offer that comes their way...by reasonable offer I mean an offer to take the contract in entirety with no retention. Guys that hold out so publicly tend to have short lifespans with management, They caved in but did not forget. I don't like the guy, he oozes selfishness douchebagery ...I'll cheer for him as a Bruins if he turns it around but if he get's traded I will hate him..... unlike others who have left the Bruins who I still cheer for on their new teams ... which is the vast majority of the ex Bruins.

 

[Hookslide]

That answer from Zadorov is damning imo. Makes you wonder if Swayman is starting to wear out his welcome in the room a little bit.

Starting to wear it out !

Agree but his NMC kicks in 26-27

Give him another is risky, his value will decrease and you will be looking at a salary dump, and it will cost you for it to happen. Donnie needs to be proactive for a change and move him now. You keep him another year, you have a Huberdeau contract.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Next time Swayman sees Kuemper, maybe he can ask him what it's like to go from a mediocre defensive team to a solid one.

Did Kuemper at age 34 all of sudden find a second wind? His numbers from Washington last year vs. LA this year are like night and day. His numbers last year were worse than Swayman's this year. This year for goalies with over 20 appearances he's 3rd in SP, 2nd in GAA.

Is Kuemper suddenly a new goaltender? I'm gonna say no. What changed? The players and systems in front of him.

You put Swayman on LA and his numbers are just as good if not better.

There is something to be said for the difference in body language between our two goaltenders this season.

One one hand we have a guy who is willing to make the desperation saves when he is down and out and who seems to battling for the win and is pissed when it breaks down for upteenth time in front him and the game goes south.

On the other, we have a guy who is waving his arm half-heartedly at the puck as it breezes by him as these games get out of hand.

I understand why our fans are complimentary of Korpisalo and critical of Swayman.

To be clear, I agree with you. And I believe Swayman is too talented and too good of a goaltender to not bounce back out of this. He is but one of the many issues that have plagued the Bruins this season and he’s not even the most egregious. And there was a bit of predetermined outrage that was going to directed at Swayman due to the inaccurate and inflammatory narrative surrounding his contract negotiations this offseason - regardless of his performance.

But I also feel myself pissed that the guy can’t show half the compete level of his counterpart, who is supposed to be his backup.