Swayman got what he wanted, at least enough of it, and the Bruins got what they needed, a young netminder who one day could be ranked among the NHL’s elite goalies.
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The “For Sale” sign across the front of Jeremy Swayman’s chest protector flipped to “Sold” Sunday morning, the franchise stopper taking himself off the NHL’s restricted free agent market and staying with the Bruins for a deal worth $66 million over the next eight seasons.
Swayman got what he wanted, at least enough of it, and the Bruins got what they needed, a young (25) netminder whose abundant talent and athleticism one day could see him ranked among the NHL’s elite goalies.
The new season begins for the Bruins Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla. Time and a whole lot of rubber (400-450 games?) fired his way will decide Swayman’s lot and, ultimately, his franchise legacy.
Time also will tell if there is a lingering stain after a monthslong negotiation that only last Monday had Swayman’s agent essentially calling Cam Neely a liar after the team president suggested in a Causeway Street presser that the club had
offered Swayman $64 million.
An offer of that amount was never made, according to the agent,
who made public his comments with a printed statement some seven hours later in the day. The agent added he and Swayman were “disappointed” and would “take a few days to discuss where we go from here.”
Then on Sunday, voila, the deal was done at $66 million, slightly more than a 3 percent bump over what may be remembered as the Neely Number
For a figure that never existed until Monday morning, in hindsight it appeared to be, well, right about on the money.
“Again, Lewis was incredible in this entire process,” said Swayman, referring to agent Lewis Gross, when asked by a Globe reporter for clarity around the $64 million rub. “It just goes to show what he would do to really protect me as his client, and sticking his neck out and making sure that everyone knew that some accusations were true and some were false … and it’s not my job necessarily right here, right now to give you that answer.”
Ah, right, some truth, some lies … a little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down those pants with lots of cash lining those deep pockets. Deal done. Move on. Let’s all fuhgettaboutit.
Look, fine, Swayman didn’t want to answer. Super. He got his dough. He wants us all to let the details go, fade into the fog of negotiations.
General manager Don Sweeney also cared not to dive into the weeds when asked the same question.
“No, not really,” said Sweeney, asked if he cared to respond to that $64M figure and the agent’s ensuing comments. “I think I have responded to answer your questions and I feel very comfortable in terms of where our communication was all along — as I said, narrative is narrative and that’s all I have.”
Typically, Sweeney is not much of a talker. Curt and typically cordial and for the most part efficient. That’s been his M.O. since being handed the keys in 2015. He is never light and breezy. On this subject, he had the storm shutters battened down tight.
Later, Swayman added, “You can dissect it all you want and think about it, but again, what’s that going to do? Again, we’re here right now … I got a plane to catch in an hour (the team’s to Florida) and that’s all I care about, man. I couldn’t be more happy.”
It felt like we were all on the White House lawn, with the blades of the president’s chopper filling the air with thunderous thwacks. No time for details. Fuzzy words. Hold on to your hats, loyal citizens, it’s takeoff time.
Indeed, it was a happy day for Bruins fans and the nouveau-riche Swayman, whose disposition at the presser was decidedly more sunny side up than that of Sweeney, whose remarks were brief and muted..
Let it be noted, the goalie and the GM did not share one of those big ol’ loveable brotherly hugs that Swayman and now ex-partner Linus Ullmark (doing business in Ottawa now) patented over the last 2-3 seasons.
“It’s a big day for the Boston Bruins and for Jeremy to be celebrating moving forward,” said a subdued Sweeney, after first referring to Swayman as the “special guest” at the Guest Street presser. “And we’re excited he’ll be on the plane today.”
The GM then fielded a few questions from the media, then handed off to Swayman.
“Funny when you look at the big picture of things,” said Swayman. “and 10-15 years ago, I would never believe this would be a reality in my world.”
With the NHL salary cap set at $88M for this season, Swayman’s $8.25 million average annual value represents 9.375 percent of potential total payroll. In July 2013, with the cap at $64.3 million, a 26-year-old Tuukka Rask signed for eight years, $56 million. His $7 million AAV represented 10.9 percent of the cap. By that comparison, Swayman came in at a slight discount to the Finnish workhorse.
Rask signed just weeks after leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Blackhawks. In 2019, he again carried the Bruins to the Final, only to watch the Blues swashbuckle down Causeway Street with the Cup after winning Game 7.
If Swayman can help back a couple of runs to the Cup Final and maybe even win a title between now and the spring of 2032, it’s a good bet no one will recall the Neely Number, the agent’s accusations, and the protracted dance it took to get the goalie’s name on the dotted line.
Meanwhile, the clock starts ticking with Swayman’s career games played at 132. Rask had played 138 games.
When asked that day about signing for such substantial money, Rask matter-of-factly said, “I don’t think I’ll suck.” He retired with more games played (564) than any goalie in Bruins history.
The dealin’s done and Swayman, the richest University of Maine Black Bear that ever was, has left the table with a load of cash.
The question is, after these negotiations, at what price?