“Wants to be a Leaf" “Leaving that fraud franchise”: NHL fans react as Jeremy Swayman chooses not to file for arbitration with Boston Bruins

Boston RFA netminder Jeremy Swayman did not file for arbitration, Sportsnet confirms. While the situation does not mean that Swayman is leaving the Bruins, the events signal that he and the Bruins will have to figure out a new contract without third-party intervention.

As soon as news of Swayman’s decision hit social media, fan reaction began pouring in. Some fans felt disappointed about the goalie's determination. Here’s a look at some choice comments from fans across social media.

“Wants to be a Leaf,” a fan weighed in.

“He gone. Leaving that fraud franchise,” another fan chimed in.

“Sweeney really screwing up this team,” this fan posted.

While some fans seemed upset by the news, others seemed convinced that Jeremy Swayman would go to another club. Here’s a look at the destinations some fans think he will be heading to:

“To The Leafs,” one fan posted.

“He’s going to Ottawa,” this fan thinks.

“So excited for him to sign with Edmonton!” a fan expressed.

It’s worth pointing out that Swayman and the Bruins went to arbitration last season. During the process, the third-party arbitrator awarded Swayman a one-year, $3.48 million deal. Now, the Bruins will need to work out a deal with Swayman or risk having him sit out next season.

Predicting Jeremy Swayman’s next contract

In light of Swayman choosing not to file for arbitration, the Bruins and their RFA netminder must work out a deal or risk watching Swayman sit until a deal is done.

That makes the situation somewhat complex, as both sides would need to meet halfway on a fair deal. That’s where things can get sticky. A recent piece by The Athletic explored potential deals, using other goalies’ contracts for comparison.

For instance, the Vancouver Canucks gave Thatcher Demko a five-year deal worth $5 million per season. However, such a deal would fall below the $6.253 million AAV cited by The Athletic from Evolving Hockey.

The Athletic also cited an anonymous player agent who estimated that Swayman could get as much as an eight-year deal worth $7.5 annually.

Furthermore, the Athletic compared Juuse Saros’ recent deal worth $7.74 million over eight years. The piece also cited Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevsky’s contract worth $9.5 million per season over eight years.

Lastly, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn believes Swayman could get as much as $11 million on an eight-year deal.

While the low and high ends seem unlikely, a deal more in line with Juuse Saros’ recent contract could be more realistic. The Bruins traded Linus Ullmark in order to clear space for Swayman. As such, it seems the Bruins are looking for at least a $7 million cap hit per season.

With roughly $8.6 million in available cap space, the Bruins are faced with a tough choice. If they sign Swayman to a large contract, the club will need to clear more cap space. Unfortunately, the B’s may need to sacrifice someone to make room for Swayman’s new contract.