Just a week after being awarded $3.475 million in arbitration for the 2023-24 NHL season, goaltender Jeremy Swayman is ready for the upcoming season with the Bruins.
Swayman and the Bruins were reportedly $2.8 million apart in their meetings, per Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman, after Swayman requested $4.8 million.
After an arbitrator awarded the goalie $3.475 million, Swayman was excited to stay in Black and Gold.
“It’s a business,” Swayman, who previously played for the University of Maine, told reporters on Tuesday. “I wanted to make sure whatever was thrown my way, I was able to attack it with a good mindset and make sure at the end of the day I was doing everything I could do to be a Boston Bruin. Now that I’m here today and I am a Boston Bruin, I couldn’t be happier.”
Despite uncertainty surrounding his contract with the Bruins, Swayman stayed in Boston for the summer. After the Bruins’ disheartening Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Swayman wanted to put work in.
“I stuck around Boston this summer because I knew I was going to get the best training, the best coaching and the best atmosphere to get better,” Swayman told reporters. “That was a commitment that I wanted to make personally, to make sure I never have that feeling again in Game 7. I think it’s been one of the better training years of my life because of that.”
Swayman holds nothing against the Bruins after going through the arbitration process.
“I’m here today and I am a Boston Bruin and I couldn’t be happier,” Swayman added. “There’s no ill will on the process because I understand I’m not the first player to go through it and I’m not the last, but I definitely wouldn’t wish it on any of my friends and teammates moving forward, and I don’t want to do it ever again. I’m grateful I went through it. I’m glad we got it done, because I’m a Boston Bruin at the end of the day.”
To add onto his excitement of staying in the Black and Gold sweater, he is happy to be back with fellow goaltender Linus Ullmark.
The pairing of Ullmark and Swayman has been prevalent with the goalie hugs after every Bruins win. The two have stayed close friends through the battle for the start in net.
“If we didn’t have that we’d be pissed at each other, because it wouldn’t elevate our game,” Swayman said. “We know if we slump in games that the other guy is going to take the net, and that is going to elevate our level every game. If we compete with each other at the highest level, we are giving our team the best chance to win every night.”
The Bruins open their season Oct. 11 when they welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to TD Garden.
Story by Kayla Gregoire, masslive.com
