“I don’t want it to end, - Jeremy Swayman on being a Bruin

The situation in Boston between the Boston Bruins and unsigned RFA goalie Jeremy Swayman continues to fragment.

The two sides are reportedly still far apart in negotiations and have now evidently taken to the media for a bit of a 'public opinion' stand off. Both sides have dug in their heels, they've hurled veiled insults through the media and now it's time to see who the public backs.

From what I've gathered online, most Bruins fans want Swayman back and feel that the $64 million offer (8 years x $8 million) reportedly offered up to him is more than fair. Holding out for Charlie McAvoy's 8 x $9.5 million offer is a bit rich for most Bruins fans and only shows where Swayman's heart lies... in his wallet.

But, is that a fair take? That Swayman is only in it for the money?

In a sneak peek of the upcoming 'Faceoff: Inside the NHL' Amazon series, there's a different, more sentimental side of Swayman on display. Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa managed to score a preview of the show and he shared some pretty insightful Swayman moments.

Read below, courtesy of Shinzawa's most recent column for The Athletic:

Some of the material, which was provided to The Athletic in advance of the series’ Friday release, foreshadows and gives context to the contract stalemate the team and Swayman now find themselves in.

After his team’s Game 6 loss to the Florida Panthers at TD Garden, Swayman even wondered whether it was his final game as a Bruin.

“I was just thinking about that jersey, like, ‘Is it the last time?’ That’s when I was like, ‘Whoa,’” Swayman said on the show. “You’re skating around the Garden, you’re looking up and you’re hearing your name chanted and it’s like, ‘Whoa. Like … f—.’”

Swayman was the Bruins’ best player in the playoffs. Under normal circumstances, there would be no way the Bruins would move such a performer. But he was thinking about his expiring one-year, $3.475 million deal and how his ask might be beyond the Bruins’ reach. As such, he was being realistic about being traded.

“I don’t want it to end,” Swayman said. “It could be the last time I wear a Bruins jersey, and I know I’m going to do everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time. As a kid growing up in Alaska, this wasn’t in my wildest f—ing dreams. I never want it to end and I’m just so grateful the sun’s going to rise tomorrow and there’s another opportunity to get better. Whatever I can do to help this team win, I know everything else will take care of itself.”

Swayman’s contract was also on his mind one series earlier. Before Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Swayman was thinking about his future, not just that of his team.

“We don’t have to shy away from it,” Swayman said. “There’s a contract on the line. I want to treat every game as if it was my last because you really don’t know what the hell could happen. I’ll do whatever I can to not have regret when I look at myself in the mirror after it all. Yeah, I’m going to have to be a motherf—er in the net. Like, I’m not going to let anything go in. But why wouldn’t I smile, wink and have fun?”

One thing's clear to me here: Swayman has been prepared for a tough negotiation for a long time now. These candid moments prove that Swayman had been thinking about his contract stalemate for months before the offseason even began. Can't blame a guy for knowing what he wants.

Read below for our earlier report on the Bruins' waiver claim for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jiri Patera.

The Boston Bruins have claimed goalie Jiri Patera off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. The netminder was placed on the wire on Tuesday with the hopes to be assigned to AHL Abbotsford, however, he is making a move to Boston.

Patera posted a record of 11-10-4 along with a 2.99 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 25 outings with AHL Henderson during the 2023-24 regular season. He signed a two-year, $1.55 million deal with the Canucks in the offseason.

The Bruins made the move as the situation is getting uglier with restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman. It certainly got worse when the netminder’s agent flat out called Cam Neely a liar after the team president insinuated that the club had offered his client a $64 million contract.

Swayman and the Bruins have been deadlocked in a highly publicized contract dispute and with the regular season around the corner, the clock keeps ticking. Both sides have until Dec. 1 to come to an agreement or else Swayman will remain inactive for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

In the meantime, the Bruins are making sure to have depth in between the pipes.

As for everyone else who landed on waivers on Tuesday, they have cleared and been assigned to the minors.

In other waiver news on Wednesday, 13 players were placed on waivers, including veteran goalies including Philadelphia Flyers’ Cal Petersen and Carolina Hurricanes’ Spencer Martin. This is the group of players that have been placed on the wire with the hopes of being assigned to their respective farm club.

SJS: Poturalski, Sabourin
PHI: Cal Petersen
PIT: Huntington, Johnstone, Hollowell
CAR: Martin
COL: Phillips, Ahcan, Rosen
NYR: Groulx
CBJ: Fix-Wolansky