Player Discussion VIDEO: Swayman/Sweeney Following Contract Extension

[Dr Hook]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/826406/2019/05/01/william-nylanders-lost-season-the-story-behind-the-negotiations-that-derailed-the-leafs-young-star/

It's not just about shots, but getting used to game speed, conditioning, working on technique, etc.

Again, how much of that does he get in a preseason vs 20 games into an NHL season? I can’t get past the article paywall but I believe that might have been true for his first few starts but he’s well into it now. He needs to be better.

 

[bme44]

Swayman's ego has damaged this team IMO . He put himself above the team, and it has hurt the product on the ice. He may need a chat with Bergeron if he wants to be a winner. and a Bruin

 

[Helsinki city boy]

Behind that D even Rask would look like a Jim Carey. Swayman hasnt shine, but that D just sucks. As a goalie you just cannot do anything if D lets guys to run straight at your goal (like Mathius shorthander).

 

[SonnyBoy]

"I hate billionaires!"
-
"The player should of just bent over and did what is best for the organization!"

This isn't about millionaires vs billionaires. This is about guy who made his goalie friends more important than his teammates. And all of his teammates know that.

It’s always weird to me how teams can treat this like the business it is but if a player does, they’re labeled selfish. Gtfo of here with that nonsense. Swayman negotiated a deal and the Bruins paid it. Their team defense is trash. Their offense is trash. No goalie will fix that.

But even so, give Korpisalo some consecutive starts over the next week or so.

Like usual you are little bit lost but you are right that they should give Korpisalo more starts.

 

[LouJersey]

Again, how much of that does he get in a preseason vs 20 games into an NHL season? I can’t get past the article paywall but I believe that might have been true for his first few starts but he’s well into it now. He needs to be better.

He's only had 6 quality starts....needs to be a lot better. We will see what happens

 

[KrejciMVP]

This isn't about millionaires vs billionaires. This is about guy who made his goalie friends more important than his teammates. And all of his teammates know that.


Like usual you are little bit lost but you are right that they should give Korpisalo more starts.

Swayman should make stopping pucks his first priority. If you do that good things will follow. All the offseason interviews, flexing his business degree, trying to establish his brand, playing his guitar in netflix adds so much pressure to a player who has a thin skin as is. I'd suggest he go in his shell and focus solely on stopping the puck which is what you get paid for. Make it simple

 

[Kate08]

Dumbest thing he did was go on that stupid podcast.

I was firmly in the short-term/bridge contract camp for his next deal, but 20 games in it’s looking worse than I thought it was. The negotiations and how they played out clearly had an impact on the room and right or wrong that’s going to be difficult to come back from.

Keep your mouth shut and negotiate behind the scenes.

 

[goldenblack]

The problem now is with the coach gone, the next set of struggles will fall squarely on Sway, rightly or wrongly. He was already getting a healthy level of blame.

When he asked for superstar money, I'm not sure he considered what it meant to actually be a superstar. It's not glamorous when you can't hang.

 

[Number8]

My general attitude in most things the last few weeks is "you asked for it, don't you dare bitch if it goes south".

Swayman will probably be fine (there HAVE been very good goalies that lose the plot -- just saying).

In the meantime he asked for the money. He asked to be considered as on of the elites -- setting the bar for other goalies in the League. So far all he's done is be part of a group of non deliverers who played a not insignificant role in getting a good man fired.

Time for him to stop talking, get his shit together and deliver.

The Bruins defense has been poor and disorganized, no doubt. But he has been utterly putrid. And that is no exaggeration whatsoever.

 

[LSCII]

This isn't about millionaires vs billionaires. This is about guy who made his goalie friends more important than his teammates. And all of his teammates know that.


Like usual you are little bit lost but you are right that they should give Korpisalo more starts.

Trying so hard but failing so much. Sad.

The players aren’t mad at another player for getting paid. They’re in the same union, ffs. Stop buying bullshit spin from Sweeney and Neely. Those clowns are looking to blame anyone but themselves for this shit-tastic roster they assembled

 

[Kate08]

Trying so hard but failing so much. Sad.

The players aren’t mad at another player for getting paid. They’re in the same union, ffs. Stop buying bullshit spin from Sweeney and Neely. Those clowns are looking to blame anyone but themselves for this shit-tastic roster they assembled

Eh, I don't know if I buy that.

I don't think they're mad at him for getting paid, but I can definitely see some frustration on how he/his agent went about it. "The Code" is so prevalent in hockey, I could easily see a bunch of fairly spoiled athletes getting pissed off if they felt someone was going against the way things are typically done, especially if they perceive it to hurt the team.

Again, dumbest thing he did was go on that podcast. I don't begrudge anyone trying to get what they feel is owed to them, but if you play it out in the media, there's a chance it could bite you in the ass.

I also wish Cam kept his yap shut with the 64 million reasons nonsense.

 

[goldenblack]

We will know pretty soon how the players feel if Korpi gets significantly better results in front of him (in turns of run support, blocks, etc).

Say what you will, but EVERY team gets deflated when the star goalie lets in a stinker when you're already down 1-0. That adds up.

 

[LSCII]

Eh, I don't know if I buy that.

I don't think they're mad at him for getting paid, but I can definitely see some frustration on how he/his agent went about it. "The Code" is so prevalent in hockey, I could easily see a bunch of fairly spoiled athletes getting pissed off if they felt someone was going against the way things are typically done, especially if they perceive it to hurt the team.

Again, dumbest thing he did was go on that podcast. I don't begrudge anyone trying to get what they feel is owed to them, but if you play it out in the media, there's a chance it could bite you in the ass.

I also wish Cam kept his yap shut with the 64 million reasons nonsense.

I don’t see it. The players all know this is a business. They may be upset he missed camp if anything, but shaking the team down for more? Not likely. If that were the case, wouldn’t they be mad at McAvoy and Pasta for maximizing their dollars too?

This narrative of the players being mad is pure management spin to avoid taking ownership of a really subpar roster, imo.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I don’t see it. The players all know this is a business. They may be upset he missed camp if anything, but shaking the team down for more? Not likely. If that were the case, wouldn’t they be mad at McAvoy and Pasta for maximizing their dollars too?

This narrative of the players being mad is pure management spin to avoid taking ownership of a really subpar roster, imo.

There is Marchand a few weeks ago saying he would never talk about negotiations with the public. they clearly weren't a fan of him on that podcast.

 

[goldenblack]

I don’t see it. The players all know this is a business.

Doesn't seem like Sway knew it was a business in arbitration?

He handled that like a 16 year old.

 

[EverettMike]

It's so funny how active this thread is (and I get it, I really do) even though their two highest paid players Pastrnak and McAvoy have also been abominations many times this season.

 

[goldenblack]

It's so funny how active this thread is (and I get it, I really do) even though their two highest paid players Pastrnak and McAvoy have also been abominations many times this season.

Ugh don't get me started on Pasta. But around here criticizing him gets you blocked.

I'm almost more disappointed in Charlie.

But neither of those 2 is playing as bad as Sway. Sway right now if you hid his contract details, is presently AHL material. If he was paid 900K and was a third year unknown guy playing this way, he'd be in Providence and nobody would claim him on the way down.

 

[LSCII]

Doesn't seem like Sway knew it was a business in arbitration?

He handled that like a 16 year old.

Yep, and he learned from that how much of a business it really was, didn’t he? To the tune of beating the balls off the team in this negotiation, no?

Seems like Sweeney is the one who learned this time, so the kid was a fast study. Must have been those business courses at UM.

At the end of the day, Sweeney did what a lot of management types do and he viewed Swayman as a nail and the team as a hammer. And like it happens from time to time, when the shoe is on the other foot, it comes back to you how you treated people. They nickel and dimed him in that arbitration hearing to a ridiculous level. He returned the favor in a big way. The takeaway is that just because you have the leverage doesn’t mean you need to use it every time. Nuance is the key. They decided they were the hammer so when he got the chance, Sway returned the favor.

 

[EverettMike]

Ugh don't get me started on Pasta. But around here criticizing him gets you blocked.

I'm almost more disappointed in Charlie.

But neither of those 2 is playing as bad as Sway. Sway right now if you hid his contract details, is presently AHL material. If he was paid 900K and was a third year unknown guy playing this way, he'd be in Providence and nobody would claim him on the way down.

Just so it's clear Swayman has been bad, I am not denying that nor am I defending his play. He's responsible for his performance and too many nights he just hasn't been sharp.

I just don't think he's been that bad. It doesn't matter how good a goalie might be playing, when the defense in front of him is an apocalypse GAA and SV% are going to suck. So when, for example, Swayman gives up one bad goal like he did the other night there's no chance for him to really recover when the revolving door that is our defense leaves him out to try again and again.

Now I know Korpisalo has better numbers, but those have also come in sheltered minutes against the worst teams, and the Bs have been shellacked by the really good teams. We can all see the issues against talented squads has been a 20-player issue, not just the goalie, and I believe if Swayman had played some of the easy games and Korpisalo some of the hard ones their numbers would be similar.

That doesn't really matter, though, cause Swayman is paid to beat the best teams. And that's why I am definitely not happy with Swayman's play. But I am also not concerned with him longterm. It just sort of feels to me like everything that could go wrong has gone wrong in a season where he was always going to be at a disadvantage because he missed camp. Shit happens, and so far a lot of shit has happened while he's also not been very good. That's how you get train wreck stats even if you've played more like a single car crash.

I am faaaaaaar more worried that Charlie McAvoy has seemingly leveled off as a player and isn't any better than he was three or four years ago. He might actually be slightly worse!

 

[goldenblack]

Yep, and he learned from that how much of a business it really was, didn’t he? To the tune of beating the balls off the team in this negotiation, no?

Seems like Sweeney is the one who learned this time, so the kid was a fast study. Must have been those business courses at UM.

At the end of the day, Sweeney did what a lot of management types do and he viewed Swayman as a nail and the team as a hammer. And like it happens from time to time, when the shoe is on the other foot, it comes back to you how you treated people. They nickel and dimed him in that arbitration hearing to a ridiculous level. He returned the favor in a big way. The takeaway is that just because you have the leverage doesn’t mean you need to use it every time. Nuance is the key. They decided they were the hammer so when he got the chance, Sway returned the favor.

Swayman elected for arbitration (in a period where this team was very tight on cap), and got 3.75M to play half the hockey games. The sob story you tell is just that, a story. Arbitration usually falls half way between one side and the other, and like every other guy who has gone there for us, that's exactly what happened to Sway that year.

We're seeing now that actually, this young man is not that mentally tough. His agent is, however. And he probably chose him well from a purely "dollars today" stand point. That said I think an agent who got him 1M less per year, gets him a better life long term.

We're going to find out...

 

[Kate08]

I don’t see it. The players all know this is a business. They may be upset he missed camp if anything, but shaking the team down for more? Not likely. If that were the case, wouldn’t they be mad at McAvoy and Pasta for maximizing their dollars too?

This narrative of the players being mad is pure management spin to avoid taking ownership of a really subpar roster, imo.

Sure they know it's a business.

You can know it's a business and also recognize/acknowledge (passively or actively) what you perceive to be shitty business practices.

As Donnie mentioned, Marchand has alluded to not being thrilled.

At the end of the day, these are all hyper-competitive man-children.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Swayman elected for arbitration (in a period where this team was very tight on cap), and got 3.75M to play half the hockey games. The sob story you tell is just that, a story. Arbitration usually falls half way between one side and the other, and like every other guy who has gone there for us, that's exactly what happened to Sway that year.

We're seeing now that actually, this young man is not that mentally tough. His agent is, however. And he probably chose him well from a purely "dollars today" stand point. That said I think an agent who got him 1M less per year, gets him a better life long term.

We're going to find out...

Bruins payed 66 million for drama and excuses. Sway shouldnt be close to dead last in the league stat wise with this salary. Tampa get a skilled forward in Guentzel and looks like an elite team again. Night and day

 

[Scotto74]

Behind that D even Rask would look like a Jim Carey. Swayman hasnt shine, but that D just sucks. As a goalie you just cannot do anything if D lets guys to run straight at your goal (like Mathius shorthander).

Why were our goalies good last year if the D is so bad?

This years D is the same as last years D for the most part.

This Year
McAvoy
Lindholm
Carlo
Lohrei
Peeke
Wotherspoon

Last Year
McAvoy
Lindholm
Carlo
Lohrei
Peeke
Wotherspoon

out - Shattenkirk, Grzelcyk and Forbort
In - Zadorov, Oesterle

Pretty much the exact same D group. Difference can't be the players so what's next.

System? did that change vs. Last year?

Is it the team D and the forwards not playing the full length of the ice. More changes in the forwards but again not enough to show this type of drop off.

I don't know the answer but this much of a drop year to year with the same players on the D line is baffling.

 

[NDiesel]

It's so funny how active this thread is (and I get it, I really do) even though their two highest paid players Pastrnak and McAvoy have also been abominations many times this season.

Yeah they definitely all deserve a share of the blame, Mac has been so bad I'm just not sure what the hell happened to him, hopefully it's a confidence thing, but alas it's always easier to blame the goalie - and i do think he has been subpar and expect more