Hockey

Did Jeremy Swayman's Goalie Market Comments Irk Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs?

Published: Sep 30, 2024, 10:17 AM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 12:33 PM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Jeremy Swayman

Jeremy Swayman (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)

 

According to more than one NHL source, Jeremy Swayman’s comments about his contract negotiations with the Boston Bruins affecting the NHL goalie market may have contributed to him remaining unsigned.

As they enter their final week of the 2024-25 preseason, the Bruins and the restricted free agent goalie still haven’t found a way to get the Bruins expected No. 1 goalie back on the ice with his teammates. More than one trusted NHL executive source has opined to RG.org that Swayman’s comments to Marc Lewis of Savage Sports have played a role in the contract stalemate.

“If you were to ask me that question a year ago, I would answer truthfully and say “it’s scary, it’s a lot of resentment towards people that want you to succeed. And when you’re not being compensated for your endless efforts…it’s a nerve-racking feeling because it’s your family you’re fighting for,” Swayman said on Lewis’ podcast in August.

“The answer I’m gonna give you this year, is that I’ve educated myself, and I understand the business side of it all. It’s given me a complete new mindset of understanding the business and how to react to it. I understand the cap is going up and where it will be in years. I understand my comparables and how I can’t ruin the goalie market for guys that are gonna be in my shoes down the line. I went to the school of Business for the university of Maine, and I love the business side of it all.”

Swayman’s stance on behalf of the NHL goalie fraternity, and in effect, the NHLPA, likely didn’t sit well with Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who, in the eyes of many around the NHL, is a ‘Hawk’ within the NHL Board of Governors.

“I would imagine when he got word of that, he wasn’t too happy,” a veteran NHL executive told RG. “He has always been and still is an influential figure in the NHL Board of Governors. He is the main reason we have an NHL salary cap, and when one of his players is in a contract battle, he takes a stance for the players. I just can’t see that going well.”

That led another NHL executive to wonder to RG if someone from within the NHLPA had gotten to Swayman and his agent, Lewis Gross.    

“I’m not saying anyone but Gross, Swayman, and [Bruins GM] Don Sweeney are pulling the strings, but it’s clear to me this has become more than just the Bruins and Swayman,” the source said.

Numerous NHL insiders have speculated the same recently when trying to understand why Swayman and the Bruins haven’t found common ground yet. A common theme this past week was that even New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was waiting on the outcome of Swayman’s contract negotiations.

Pierre LeBrun in the latest TSN NHL Insider Trading:
There’s ongoing dialogue (between Swayman’s agent Lewis Gross and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney). I checked in on this again on Tuesday, and I was told it’s status quo, and they’re still not there. It gives me the sense that, even despite the pressure of the situation, that their real deadline is opening night as opposed to the start of camp last week. Both sides will keep going here. The key thing is that Swayman is still very focused on getting an eight-year deal. That’s still the No. 1 priority for him, and the Bruins are looking at a long-term deal as well. But you can’t have the Shesterkin discussion without having Swayman tied into it in the sense that they are different negotiations. Swayman, in terms of the collective bargaining agreement, isn’t at the same leverage point because he won’t be a UFA at the end of the year. So, Shesterkin has a higher leverage point. But in Swayman, there’s a bit of what I just talked about [with Shesterkin]. Just because all these goalies are signing for whatever they signed for the last couple years, that Swayman can’t find a way to push through. I think we’re seeing that in his negotiations with the Bruins, so it’s a fascinating one.”

As of Monday morning, there was no reported progress on contract talks between the Bruins and Swayman.

 

NHL Reporter
James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist with 25 years of experience covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL, including two decades on the Boston Bruins beat. His work has appeared on NHL.com, NESN, ESPN Boston and more, and he’s made regular TV and radio appearances on NESN, ESPN, TSN and SiriusXM. A familiar face in the hockey world, Murphy has covered multiple Stanley Cup Finals, NHL drafts and playoffs, and now co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire, interviewing top NHL executives, coaches and players. He joined RG in 2024 after stints with Boston Hockey Now and LiveBarn.
Interests:
NHL

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Swayman Contract Dispute Looming Over Current RFAs

Will last year’s contract standoff betwee Jeremy Swayman and the Bruins serve as a cautionary tale or motivation for this year’s remaining RFAs?

6
08/16/2025
James Murphy
James Murphy
Swayman Contract Dispute Looming Over Current RFAs
Hockey
News Report
Update on Hutson Contract Talks, RFA Market Reset, Dobson Comparable

Lane Hutson’s RFA status, the Dobson deal, and NHL cap rules are shaping how the Canadiens approach his next contract.

6
08/14/2025
Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Update on Hutson Contract Talks, RFA Market Reset, Dobson Comparable
Hockey
Interview
Wild GM Guerin Not Surprised Kaprizov, Rossi Remain Unsigned

Wild GM Bill Guerin gave an update on the Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi contract talks, spoke about USA's potential Olympics roster, and more.

6
08/13/2025
James Murphy
James Murphy
Wild GM Guerin Not Surprised Kaprizov, Rossi Remain Unsigned
Hockey
News Report
Source: Canadiens Play The Waiting Game on The Trade Front

Canadiens avoid risky trades, keep top prospects, and eye Sept. 1 for cap space once Carey Price’s contract is resolved.

6
08/12/2025
Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Source: Canadiens Play The Waiting Game on The Trade Front
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.