Swayman negotiations could be key to Bruins season

The Boston Bruins’ season could come down to how the negotiations with goalie Jeremy Swayman turn out. The restricted free agent is holding out for a new deal. He must sign by Dec. 1 or sit out the season. Joonas Korpisalo is the backup. The Bruins followed their record-setting, 135-point 2022-23 season with a more pedestrian 109 points last year and a second-round exit to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After topping 100 points in six straight full seasons, the focus this year will be on an extended playoff run. That hasn’t happened since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.
Boston Bruins
Last season: 47-20-15, lost to Florida in second round of playoffs.
COACH: Jim Montgomery (278-172-75 over 5 seasons with 2 teams).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 8 at Florida.
DEPARTURES: G Linus Ullmark, F Jakub Lauko, F Oskar Steen, F Danton Heinen, D Derek Forbort, F Pat Maroon, F James van Riemsdyk, F Jake DeBrusk, D Kevin Shattenkirk.
ADDITIONS: G Joonas Korpisalo, F Elias Lindholm, D Nikita Zadorov, F Max Jones, F Riley Tufte.
GOALIES: Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage), Korpisalo (21-26-4, 3.27, .890).
BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 20-1.
What to expect
The Bruins followed their record-setting, 135-point season in 2022-23 with a more pedestrian 109 points last year and a second-round exit to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After topping 100 points in six straight (non-pandemic shortened) seasons, the focus this year will be on an extended playoff run. That hasn’t happened since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. It will largely depend on whether the team re-signs Swayman, a restricted free agent. Having traded away 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, the Bruins may have to rely on Korpisalo at least until Dec. 1.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: Swayman was an All-Star in 2024, finishing in the top five of GAA and save percentage. He was good enough to wrest the starting job away from Ullmark during the playoffs last year, which persuaded the Bruins to trade Ullmark in the summer. With the departures of Maroon, van Riemsdyk, Shattenkirk and Milan Lucic (who played in just four games last season), the Bruins shed four of their five oldest players. And the other, captain Brad Marchand, is still going strong.
The not-so-good: The Bruins’ need to sign Swayman by Dec. 1 or he cannot play this season. With Korpisalo as a No. 1, goaltending turns from a strength to a weakness – especially with 26-year-old Brandon Bussi, who played 41 games for Providence of the AHL last season, as the backup.
Players to watch
F Fabian Lysell has a chance to make the team after tallying 50 points in 57 games for AHL Providence last season. F Matt Poitras made the team out of training camp last year at 19 years old, scoring five goals with 10 assists in 33 games before a season-ending shoulder injury in February.
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