The contract situation involving Jeremy Swayman had been building up all summer and finally reached a breaking point on Monday when Bruins president, Cam Neely, made a bold statement with his “64 million reasons” quote. This caught the attention of hockey fans across North America.
Neely implied the Bruins had offered Swayman an eight-year, $64 million deal, though Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, denied this, accusing Neely of lying. Gross expressed his disappointment, stating that no such offer had been discussed before Neely’s public remarks.
While the team is aware of the situation, Bruins captain Brad Marchand emphasized that it’s part of the business and that the matter hasn’t been much of a distraction. He believes the negotiations will eventually be resolved, lifting the pressure off both Swayman and the team.
Coach Jim Montgomery also noted that the contract dispute hasn’t affected the team’s morale. Meanwhile, Marchand remains in touch with Swayman, praising his dedication and competitiveness.
Fortunately, Swayman’s backup, Joonas Korpisalo, has performed well during training camp, easing concerns.
As for Trent Frederic, Montgomery sees great potential in him but believes Frederic needs to be more confident in his ability to influence games. Frederic agrees and aims to take more shots and improve his passing as camp progresses.
