Bruins 2023-24 Player Grades: Jeremy Swayman

Last summer, the Boston Bruins employed the Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark and were taken to arbitration by Jeremy Swayman, who received a $3.475 million one-year contract. At 26, Swayman is one-half of the best tandems in the NHL and is the netminder for the future of the Bruins, who remain Stanley Cup contenders despite winning two playoff series since their run to the Final in 2019.

Swayman may not have been in the lineup then, as his former battery mate Tuukka Rask was the starter. Still, when Rask got injured and was set for surgery, general manager Don Sweeney acquired Ullmark to give his young netminder time to develop his game. During the Bruins history season in 2022-23, Swayman was 24-6-4 with a 2.27 goals-against average (GAA) and a .920 save percentage (SV%).

Although the Bruins lost to the Florida Panthers in six games during the second round, it was no fault of Swayman, who was 2-4-0, including getting the hook in Game 2. Boston’s offense went dry at the wrong time, getting outscored 19-13 in the six-game series, with Swayman giving up 16 for a 2.66 GAA with a lower .917 SV%.

Final Grade

Swayman earns an A- grade for carrying the Bruins through their Centennial Season, which had ups and downs compared to the historic campaign in 2022-23. Under the new leadership of Brad Marchand, with Patrice Bergeron retired and Ullmark’s regression, Boston fell short of another shot at the Stanley Cup by a familiar opponent. Still, Swayman emerged as the future superstar netminder to wear the Spoked B.

What’s Next for Swayman and the Bruins

Ullmark enters the 2024-25 season with one year left on his deal and is on the books for $5 million. Although he had to invoke his no-movement clause to veto a trade to the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline, there’s no guarantee he’s returning for more goalie hugs next season.

The main reason behind that potential scenario is that Swayman is a restricted free agent for the second consecutive summer and is about to become a wealthy professional athlete. The Bruins front office has to secure his future and offer him whatever salary he requests because they wouldn’t have finished as a top-10 team in the NHL without him. Swaymore proved he’s ready for the starting role and has the skill set to lead Boston to their next Stanley Cup title.

Even though he had yet to receive any votes for the Vezina Trophy, Swayman is an All-Rookie and William M. Jennings Trophy winner, who just showcased that he deserves to be in the conversation with Igor Shesterkin, Thatcher Demko, Juuse Saros, and Jake Oettinger as franchise netminders who are 28 and younger.