DONE: Superstar Committed To Boston Even Without Bruins Contract
DORCHESTER—Jeremy Swayman may not currently have a contract with the Boston Bruins, but his dedication to the city is undeniable.
While many have speculated about the terms of his next deal or whether he would even return, Swayman never left. Instead, he chose to spend his summer in Boston, deeply connecting with the city and its residents.
“My main goal this summer was to get in some solid training and immerse myself in the community as much as possible,” Swayman said Sunday after participating in the Columbia Threadneedle Boston Triathlon at Carson Beach. “The people here have been so good to me, and staying year-round has been really special. Events like this are my way of giving back and showing my appreciation.”
An avid cyclist, Swayman incorporated his daily training by joining a three-person relay team, trading his goalie mask for a bike helmet.
Fulfilling a lifelong passion by competing in his first road race, he felt right at home among the hundreds of eager Bostonians as he cycled down DCR William J. Day Boulevard.
“I know that if I want to be an elite goalie, I need to train at an elite level year-round, and Boston offers that,” Swayman said. “The city provides incredible off-ice facilities, and tapping into those resources more each year has deepened my connection to this community.”
Staying active in the community this offseason has kept Swayman grounded amid the uncertainty of his contract with the Bruins.
Having faced a similar situation last summer, which left him frustrated as the season began, Swayman now holds a new, more optimistic perspective as he approaches future negotiations.
“I love it here, and that’s all I can control,” Swayman said. “I have complete trust in my agent, and I know it’ll get done eventually.”
According to Puckpedia, the Bruins have a projected $8.64 million in cap space. After signing Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov in free agency and trading away Swayman’s longtime goaltending partner, Linus Ullmark, extending their star netminder is the final piece of offseason business the Bruins need to address before training camp starts next month.
Until then, Swayman remains focused on Boston.
“I believe experience is key, and I’m gaining just as much right now as I did last year, in different ways,” Swayman said. “I understand it’s a business, and sometimes that can be tough. But I know I’ll be playing hockey at the end of the day, and I really hope it’s with the Boston Bruins.”