Jeremy Swayman still has ‘a lot of confidence’ in getting deal done

There’s a little over a month until the full Bruins roster returns to Warrior Ice Arena for training camp. 

But even with a new season sitting on the horizon, it doesn’t appear like Jeremy Swayman is fretting over the state of his contract negotiations with the Bruins. 

Swayman — a restricted free agent — has not put pen to paper on what will likely be a long-term contract extension with Boston. 

With over $9 million in cap space remaining (per @BruinsCapSpace), Boston has enough fiscal flexibility remaining to ink Swayman to a multi-year deal with a hefty pay raise. 

All parties involved have yet to bridge the gap in terms of that final annual payout to this point, but Swayman isn’t sounding the alarm at this stage of the summer. 

“There’s a lot of confidence,” Swayman said Wednesday during an appearance on the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. “And I say that because I’ve treated it like business as usual this year. I’ve been at Warrior, I’ve been working out with our guys, our staff, our players. And I know that there’s something special building in this locker room this year, and I can’t be more excited about that.

“I know that it will take care of itself with time, and all I can do is control how I’m going to be a better goalie for the Boston Bruins this year. So, that’s all I’m focused on. And I know, again, it will work out, and I couldn’t be happier to be a Bruin.”

Even though Swayman has yet to log a full season as a No. 1 starter, the 25-year-old netminder is poised to assume such a role with Boston in 2024-25 — especially with Linus Ullmark traded to Ottawa back in June. 

Swayman’s stock is also likely soaring thanks to his stellar end to the 2023-24 season, with Swayman sporting a .933 save percentage in 12 outings for the Bruins during the postseason. His 13.3 goals saved above expected led all goalies during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (per MoneyPuck), even though he only appeared in two total rounds. 

While the Bruins and Swayman’s camp might still be chipping away at what his final payout might be moving forward, former Bruins netminder Andrew Raycroft stressed last week that the lack of a deal at this point in the summer should not cause fans to panic. 

“No level of concern. No updates, haven’t heard a thing,” Raycroft said on WEEI’s “The Skate Pod” earlier this month, adding: “Everybody’s gone. The hockey world — everybody is gone. Since July 7 when that development camp shut down the last one in the league, everybody is gone.”

“There’s really no reason for fans to be worried about a contract until September,” Raycoft said. “September 1 is maybe you can start thinking or even talking about it and even then they have two weeks [until training camp begins].”