Major development in Jeremy Swayman’s contract situation in Boston

Recent reports claim that goalie Jeremy Swayman was seeking $10M AAV for his next contract as he continues to negotiate with the Boston Bruins. While the team maintains that a deal will get done before training camp, insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is more skeptical, stating the two sides “weren’t close.”

Head coach Jim Montgomery is not worried however. When asked about developments on Swayman’s contract, Montgomery stated that Swayman will be with the team when training camp opens Sept. 18.

“I don’t have anything to do with the contract situation. That’s not part of my job detail,” Montgomery told reporters Friday, per WMTW’s Joe Bailey . “My job is my connection with the players, and how we’re going to be good this year. And I have no doubt Jeremy Swayman will be a Bruin at the start of camp, and we’ll be ready to go.”

After relinquishing his arbitration rights this offseason, Swayman is an unsigned restricted free agent and especially wanted to avoid the arbitration process after he did so last summer.

The Bruins currently have $8.64 million in cap space and want to find middle ground soon with Swayman, who is the club’s only remaining RFA.

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 season, he recorded a .916 save percentage in 44 games and ranked fifth in the NHL in goals saved above expected.

When it comes to the reported demands from Swayman, insider Chris Johnston believes it “doesn’t pass the smell test for me”, and added that the impasse is not as bad as it might seem. Johnston feels like Montgomery is right about the process and that it will get sorted out before camp.

Swayman will be the starting goaltender for the Bruins, but before he can be, it needs to start with a new contract.