Jeremy Swayman shuts down in contract negotiations

Earlier this week, former NHLer and Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Ryan Whitney got involved in the Jeremy Swayman’s contract negotiations when he revealed on air the Boston Bruins’ offer to the restricted free agent goaltender. Recent reports had claimed that the goalie was seeking $10M AAV for his next contract as he continues to negotiate, while insider Frank Seravalli just claimed that Swayman is asking for around $8 million AAV, while the Bruins are sitting around $6 million AAV.

On a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Whitney revealed how he received information from a source that says the Bruins’ latest offer to Swayman is four years, with a cap hit of $6.2 million per season. The former NHLer also claims that Boston has reportedly not contacted or returned any calls from Jeremy Swayman within the last three weeks.

“Current Swayman offer from the Bruins. 4 years x $6.2 million (per year).” Whitney said.

He added: “And apparently, the Bruins have not contacted or returned Swayman’s calls in three weeks.

“Now, I’m running with a source here. You can say I’m ridiculous. You could say I’m making things up. I am not. I am running with the source. And if their offer is four years x $6.2 million, after you traded your other stud goalie, that’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. That’s insane. That’s crazy. That is not even close.”

On Friday, insider Fluto Shinzawa tackled the issue and tried to get in touch with Swayman, but the goalie has shut down and declined to contribute to his article.

“Swayman declined a request for comment.”

In his piece, Shinzawa explains how much leverage Swayman has in the current ordeal when speaking with an unidentified general manager from the league.

“They have to sign him to real term so he has a lot of leverage here,” one NHL GM, granted anonymity to discuss a player not on his team, wrote of Swayman in a text.'

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop, but the club’s training camp is just around the corner. After relinquishing his arbitration rights this summer, Swayman is an unsigned restricted free agent who especially wanted to avoid the arbitration process after he did so last offseason.

After trading Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators earlier this summer, the Bruins look to Swayman to lead the way in Boston with a bigger workload. Last year, he recorded a .916 save percentage in 44 games and ranked fifth in the NHL in goals saved above expected.

At the end of last month, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery claimed that he is not worried when he asked about developments on Swayman’s contract.

However, after reading Shinzawa’s article and hearing the comments from Whitney, I’d be a little worried if I were the Bruins…