Elliotte Friedman explains why Boston Bruins-Jeremy Swayman 2023 contract arbitation saga could be a lesson for teams

Last offseason, Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins found themselves in need of arbitration after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.

The situation was resolved by an arbitrator, who determined that Swyaman would receive a one-year deal valued at $3.75 million.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has shared his thoughts on the Boston Bruins' decision to take netminder Jeremy Swayman to contract arbitration last season. As per Friedman, teams should exhaust every possible option before resorting to arbitration. He wrote this could otherwise cause irreversible deterioration in relationship between the team and the player.

The silver lining for the Bruins, according to Friedman is that Swayman still expresses a desire to sign a long-term contract with the team, which bodes well for their future relationship. In his Sportsnet column, Friedman wrote:

"One thing that’s definitely happened with Swayman: it has reminded teams why you should move mountains before taking cornerstone players to arbitration. Every few years there’s a case — Tommy Salo, P.K. Subban, Shea Weber — leaving lasting bitterness on someone’s part."

"(I always admired Brendan Morrison for not losing his mind when the NHL’s lawyer called him the mouse to Todd Bertuzzi’s elephant.) The best news for the Bruins is their No. 1 goalie still wants to sign long-term."

Despite the 25-year-old netminder expressing a desire for a long-term contract with the Bruins, he remains unsigned as the team prepares for training camp starting this week.

The lack of progress in contract negotiations with Jeremy Swayman is concerning for the Boston Bruins, as failing to secure him could leave the club with limited options in goal, particularly following the trade of Linus Ullmark.

After an impressive playoff performance last term, Swayman is viewed as a key player for the team's future, However, as of now, his contract situation remains uncertain, leaving fans and analysts alike anxious about the upcoming season.

What's next for Boston Bruins?

The Boston Bruins are set to enter the 2024-25 season without Ullmark, and if they fail to reach an agreement with Jeremy Swayman, the team could face a challenging start to the season.

Without a top goaltender, the Bruins may have to rely on summer acquisition Joonas Korpisalo and goalie prospect Brandon Bussi in the short term.

Swayman had an impressive performance last term, finishing the season with a record of 25-10-8 in 44 games. He posted a .916 SV% and a 2.53 GAA. In the playoffs, the netminder elevated his game even further, boasting a .933 SV% and 2.15 GAA.