In a stunning move, the Boston Bruins have reportedly extended a jaw-dropping $64 million contract offer to restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman, as confirmed by team president Cam Neely. While he didn’t disclose the duration of the contract, industry speculation suggests it could be an eight-year deal with an average annual cap hit of around $8 million.

Neely commented on Swayman’s situation, playfully remarking, “I’d have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.” This sentiment underlines the urgency for both the player and the team; Swayman has expressed a strong desire to remain with the Bruins, coinciding with insights from The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa.

As it stands, Swayman is expected to remain unsigned as the Bruins prepare to submit their opening night roster next week. General manager Don Sweeney shared that it is “unlikely” Swayman will be available for the regular-season opener. Instead, head coach Jim Montgomery has confirmed that Joonas Korpisalo will be the starting goalie against the Florida Panthers on October 8, following a strong performance in the preseason.

At just 27 years old, Swayman has been vocal this summer, aiming to set a new precedent for goaltender contracts after accepting a one-year arbitration contract worth $3.475 million last off-season. His statistics speak volumes: a .919 save percentage (SV%) in the regular season and an impressive .922 in playoff games, despite only starting a maximum of 45 games in any given season.

Swayman has been a pivotal player for the Bruins, especially after they traded Linus Ullmark to the Senators this summer, thus making Swayman the primary goaltender. Together, Ullmark and Swayman were instrumental in the Bruins' success over the past few seasons, achieving a combined .915 SV% last season, which was crucial in navigating through the Atlantic Division despite some struggles in even-strength possession metrics.

However, if Swayman remains unsigned for an extended period, it could complicate matters for the Bruins, especially with Korpisalo’s shaky recent performance. Last season with Ottawa, he recorded a troubling .890 SV% and a 3.27 goals-against average (GAA) over 50 games. A poor start could jeopardize the Bruins’ chances of clinching a playoff spot in what promises to be a fiercely competitive Atlantic division.

Swayman’s deadline to sign a contract and be eligible for play this season is set for December 1. As fans eagerly await the outcome, the question remains: will Swayman seal the deal and don the Bruins jersey this season? The clock is ticking!