The Boston Bruins have yet to finalize a contract to re-sign star goaltender Jeremy Swayman, but general manager Don Sweeney wants to clarify the team’s approach to the negotiations.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sweeney addressed rumors that he and the Boston front office had been unresponsive to Swayman’s calls throughout the offseason.
“I think it’s nonsense for anyone to say I didn’t return a call for three weeks,” Sweeney said, visibly frustrated. “That’s simply not true.”
Don Sweeney was all kinds of fired up today when addressing the Jeremy Swayman contract situation. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/vGsgP5YhNl
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) September 18, 2024
Sweeney’s comments were aimed at speculation made by former player Ryan Whitney, co-host of Barstool’s “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast. Whitney had claimed on the show that a source informed him the Boston GM was ignoring Swayman’s calls. In response, Sweeney dismissively referred to the podcast as the “Spittin’ up on yourself podcast.”
The #RumorBoys are back at it again hearing the Bruins offered Swayman 4 years x $6.2M AAV
Presented by @pinkwhitney https://t.co/H2asmmniJU pic.twitter.com/YtrTHCpjNS
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) September 4, 2024
During Wednesday’s press conference, Sweeney didn’t mention Ryan Whitney by name but instead referred to his co-host, Paul Bissonnette, who later responded on X, denying any involvement in starting the rumor.
Despite the back-and-forth, the contract situation between Boston and Swayman remains unresolved. However, Sweeney expressed optimism, stating that he hopes the deal will be finalized before the Dec. 1 deadline.
"At the end of the day I'm optimistic because I think we'll find a landing spot before December 1st."
Don Sweeney on the status of Jeremy Swayman's contract with the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/IHZZamCNH9
— NESN (@NESN) September 18, 2024
“It’s our intention to continue negotiating a contract,” Sweeney said at the same news conference. “I’m disappointed … that I haven’t been able to do that yet … But in the end, I’m optimistic because I think we’ll find a landing spot before [Dec. 1].”
As ESPN reports, the December deadline is crucial since any contract signed after that date would prevent Swayman from playing in the 2024-25 season, forcing him to sit out until next year.
Last season, Swayman posted a 25-10-8 record for the Bruins, the highest win total of his four-year career.
Boston has already traded its other goaltender, Linus Ullmark, to Ottawa in June, receiving goalie Jonas Korpisalo, center Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round pick, which the team used to draft center Dean Letourneau.
