Bruins GM Fumes, Hints Swayman Dispute Could Go Well Into The Season

The Jeremy Swayman dispute with the Boston Bruins is starting to get more and more worrisome for fans in Beantown. And clearly, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is getting more and more perturbed about the rumors that are floating around it all.

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported today that Sweeney said he is "optimistic" something will be in place "by December 1st"... That's nearly two months into the season, and is, in fact, the deadline for players to be signed or they are in eligible to return for the remainder of the campaign.

Boston GM Don Sweeney said today that he’s disappointed not to have a contract done with Jeremy Swayman — but is optimistic they will find a landing spot (with the Bruins) by December 1.

That is the deadline for Swayman to sign a contract for the 2024-25 season.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 18, 2024

Sweeney admits he is disappointed that a contract is not done yet with the restricted free agent goaltender. The 25-year-old was set to be the Bruins' number one goalie not only this season but well into the future after the trade of co-No.1 Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators at the beginning of the off-season.

Some rumors have had Swayman looking for a contract that starts at $10 million AAV, while others have said that the Bruins have lowballed him with an offer of $6.2 million per year, and most disturbing to Sweeney, one wild report that the GM went three weeks without returning Swayma's calls.

Don Sweeney on the report that Boston was not returning Swayman calls:

"I think it's bullshit that somebody says I wouldn't return a call for three weeks. ... My son loves Biz, thinks he's fabulous. I think he's a great entertainer. But at the end of the day, it's inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/vJRuYjqMGz
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) September 18, 2024

"I think it's bullsh*t that somebody says I wouldn't return a call for three weeks," said Sweeney in a rant to the media. "It's inaccurate."

The goalie decided not to choose arbitration this summer after the experience left a sour taste in his mouth last year. And now here we are, camp is underway, with Swayman not in attendance.

In the meantime, it appears that the Bruins may have to start the season with Joonas Korpisalo, acquired from the Senators in the Ullmark trade, as their starter between the pipes.