The Bruins and RFA netminder Jeremy Swayman are only discussing long-term contract options at this late stage in negotiations, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic wrote Tuesday. But beyond that, there’s still a sizeable gap between the two sides in desired AAV/cap hit, and there’s no sign of movement with under two weeks to go until Boston’s regular-season opener.
If it gets done before the season, it’ll likely be with little time to spare before Oct. 8, LeBrun writes. Swayman isn’t expected to participate in the remainder of the preseason at all.
That leaves plenty of opportunity in the run-up for Joonas Korpisalo, who’s looked decent early on in camp after struggling to the tune of a .890 SV% in 55 appearances with the Senators last season. Acquired in the Linus Ullmark swap to be Swayman’s backup, he’ll be thrust back into a No. 1 role if the contract stalemate extends into the regular season.
There’s more from LeBrun:
- Over a week into training camps and two weeks after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated he was still hoping to catch on, free agent winger Phil Kessel still isn’t considering retirement, LeBrun said. Teams can still sign players to professional tryouts, and while it’s rare to do so after the start of camp, it does happen. “A couple of teams” have stayed in contact with Kessel’s camp while waiting to see how some early training camp battles played out, so there could be some movement there in the coming days. “He’s also not begging for a job, but he genuinely believes he can still help someone,” LeBrun wrote.
- Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk finds himself in a similar situation, LeBrun said, although he at least logged NHL minutes last year. In fact, he did fairly well with the Bruins, posting 24 points and a -2 rating in 64 contests while averaging 15:47 per game. “I would imagine Shattenkirk will land somewhere on the cheap over the next few weeks,” LeBrun said, indicating Shattenkirk could remain unsigned past opening night but sign somewhere quickly if an early-season injury arises.
- It’s also status quo between Ullmark and his new home in Ottawa on a lack of extension talks, LeBrun relays from colleague Chris Johnston on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading. “GM Steve Staios wants to give Ullmark time to get as excited about the team and city as the organization is already about having him in the fold,” wrote LeBrun.
- There were some slight rumblings that the NHL’s general managers would reverse their October 2023 vote to decentralize the league’s entry draft starting in 2025 after the success of the 2024 event in Vegas at Sphere. Those rumblings will go unfulfilled; as the league told LeBrun, “At the request of a large majority of clubs, it is moving forward with plans for a decentralized draft for June 2025.” Prospects will still attend an event, but team staff won’t be traveling.
Ah, kinda a bummer about the draft, but not surprising. I like the event nature of a big get together with reps from each team.
Ditto.
I feel like I’m in the minority but i couldn’t disagree more. The NFL draft blows the NHL one out of the water, I’m excited for the new format if it’s similar.
That’s funny I suppose, because I personally can’t stand the NFL draft and have always loved the NHL style draft. As the saying goes, to each his own
Didn’t Bettman just get done saying (out of the other side of his mouth) that the league is hyper-super healthy (paraphrased)? This smacks of going cheap-ass, maybe in part because of the Bally Sports revenue hit, and also fear of another lockout. Owners may want to pad their coffers ahead of time.
@Mac – While they won’t admit it, many in the league liked how they were able to operate during covid. Another downside from that “era”.
Copying other leagues in hopes of seeming “one of the big boys” is what the NHL loves to do. But its draft was uniquely special, allowing fans around the league to participate in various ways. They only tainted it some by turning it into a cash grab, since every league sees its fans as easy marks…
Nailed it in the first sentence. The NHL consistantly fails to realize that their fanbase is unique. Doing what the NFL or NBA does is of no value to most hockey fans.
Good old NHL, always going back on something after it’s successful. What a shame. No shock the league’s GMs suck – they’re hired by idiot owners.