Jeremy Swayman is still “very confident” that the deal will go through

Bruins

“I know something special is developing in this locker room this year and I couldn’t be more excited about it.”

There is just over a month left until the entire Bruins squad returns to the Warrior Ice Arena for training camp.

But even with a new season just around the corner, Jeremy Swayman doesn’t seem to be worried about the status of his contract negotiations with the Bruins.

Swayman – a restricted free agent – ​​has not yet signed a likely long-term contract extension with Boston.

With over $9 million in remaining salary cap space (according to @BruinsCapSpace), Boston has enough financial flexibility to sign Swayman to a multi-year deal with a hefty raise.

So far, all parties involved have not closed the gap on the final annual payout, but Swayman is not sounding the alarm at this point in 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 approached it like I normally do this year. I’ve been at Warrior, I’ve been working out with our guys, our staff, our players. And I know there’s something special developing in that locker room this year, and I couldn’t be more excited about that.”

“I know that with time it will take care of itself. The only thing I can control is how I become a better goalie for the Boston Bruins this year. That’s what I’m focused on. And I know it will happen again. I couldn’t be happier to be a Bruin.”

Although Swayman has not yet completed a full season as the No. 1 regular, the 25-year-old goaltender is on the verge of taking on such a role for Boston in the 2024-25 season – especially since Linus Ullmark was traded to Ottawa in June.

Swayman’s stock should also soar thanks to his stellar finish to the 2023-24 season, as Swayman posted a .933 save percentage in 12 games for the Bruins in the postseason. His 13.3 goals saved above expectation was the best of any goaltender during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (per MoneyPuck), despite only playing in two rounds in total.

While the Bruins and Swayman’s camp are still mulling over what his final payout might be in the future, former Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft stressed last week that fans should not panic because a deal has not been finalized at this point in the summer.

“Nothing to worry about. No news, I haven’t heard anything,” Raycroft said on WEEI’s “The Skate Pod” earlier this month, adding, “Everyone’s gone. The hockey world – everyone’s gone. Since July 7, when development camp closed the last one in the league, everyone’s gone.”

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