Bruins Face Goalie Uncertainty as Swayman Deal Remains Unfinished
*Boston, MA* — With the 2024-25 NHL season rapidly approaching, the Boston Bruins find themselves in a precarious situation regarding their starting goaltender. Despite the recent addition of Joonas Korpisalo to their roster, the Bruins have yet to finalize a contract with Jeremy Swayman, leaving fans and analysts alike concerned about who will be between the pipes on opening night.
Korpisalo, who was brought in following the trade of Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, boasts solid experience, but his recent performance stats suggest that he is not likely to take over as the Bruins’ starting goalie unless unforeseen circumstances arise. Last season, Korpisalo posted a respectable but unspectacular save percentage and goals-against average, numbers that indicate he is better suited as a reliable backup rather than the go-to netminder for a team with championship aspirations.
Meanwhile, Swayman, who has been the Bruins’ primary goalie alongside Ullmark for the past three seasons, remains without a new deal as a restricted free agent.
The 25-year-old has been a standout performer, recording a career 79-33-15 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.53 goals-against average over 132 games. His consistent play has earned him the trust of both the coaching staff and the fan base, making the delay in securing his services all the more concerning.
Insiders close to the situation report that negotiations between the Bruins and Swayman have been challenging, with the two sides still far apart as training camp looms. Elliotte Friedman, a well-respected NHL insider, recently commented on the ongoing talks, stating, “The last I heard, they weren’t close. This has been a bit of a challenging negotiation. But, they’ve still got time.”
Despite these hurdles, there is a prevailing sense that the Bruins are committed to Swayman as their starter. The team has made moves that suggest a full transition to Swayman, such as the trade of Ullmark, further underscoring their belief in the young goalie. However, the lack of a signed contract is causing unease among Bruins supporters, who are eager to see their team’s goaltending situation solidified before the puck drops on the new season.
As the clock ticks down to the start of training camp, all eyes will be on the Bruins’ front office to see if they can lock in their star goalie. Until then, the question of who will start in goal for Boston remains an open one, with Swayman still expected to take the reins—assuming a deal is reached in time.
