The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman to an eight-year contract with a total value of $66 million. The annual cap hit will be $8.25 million.
General Manager Don Sweeney prioritized the signing (even though it may not seem like it), conducting a thorough shopping list in the free agent market and ensuring he had sufficient funds to finalize the deal with Swayman and his agent Lewis Gross.
When checking social media or chat boards, it becomes evident that fans were growing impatient, even angry due to the absence of this announcement. Some sided with Swayman, but surprisingly, most sided with management. The reality is this negotiation had some bitter moments and it required both sides setting aside their egos, especially in the last week.
Agents (on behalf of their clients) seek lockout protection and trade security in long-term contracts, along with signing bonuses and contracts resistant to buyouts. Conversely, teams try to avoid granting full-term no-movement clauses to players (with little success). The Bruins have shown hesitation in offering substantial signing bonuses and prioritize contracts that are not buyout-proof.
Reflecting on the David Pastrnak scenario in 2023, there was significant fan outcry regarding potentially trading him if a deal was not reached by the trade deadline. Ultimately, the extension was signed but not until March 3. Pastrnak secured trade protection, albeit with modifications in the final two years. His contract offers limited lockout protection compared to other star players in the league and is not entirely buyout-proof.
In the Pastrnak situation, both sides got some of what they were looking for but neither side won outright. It took a lengthy negotiation to get there and the Swayman situation was the same. I foresee a similar situation in the next few years with Mason Lohrei.
Contract details are not yet available, but it appears at first glance neither side can declare themselves winners in this negotiation, which usually means it’s a good deal for both sides.
Fresh off signing the Swayman deal, the Bruins’ salary cap situation is now clearer. The team plans to have a 23-man roster, but it’s uncertain if they will opt for two additional defensemen or two extra forwards. Maybe even carrying three goaltenders to start the season.
The roster below includes a 22-player roster, and swapping out the additional players will have minimal impact on the salary cap. By doing this, they have created flexibility and have secured ample room for transactions on trade deadline day.
There is still plenty of room to add the 23rd player and even some room for the eventual callup when the inevitable injury occurs.
| SEASON | CLAUSE | SALARY | SIGNING BONUS |
| 2024-2025 | None | $6,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| 2025-2026 | None | $6,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| 2026-2027 | NMC | $5,500,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 2027-2028 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| 2028-2029 | NMC | $5,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| 2029-2030 | NMC | $5,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| 2030-2031 | 10 Team Trade | $5,000,000 | $2,500,000 |
| 2031-2032 | 10 Team No Trade | $4,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
Dom - Hockey 