Why trading Jeremy Swayman could actually be a smart move for the Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have already traded one of the league’s top goaltenders, but could another trade be looming if they fail to reach an agreement with Jeremy Swayman?
The Jeremy Swayman situation continues to unfold as the Boston Bruins progress through their preseason, and being forced to trade him could be a major blow to the team. While Joonas Korpisalo could serve as a solid temporary solution if Swayman holds out through October and even November, relying on him as the starting goalie for the entire season could hinder one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.
That said, some may argue that the Bruins wouldn’t necessarily be doomed without Swayman. While trading one of the league’s better goaltenders isn’t ideal, the Bruins could potentially secure a significant return in exchange for Swayman.
Trading a player like Swayman could result in a blockbuster deal, particularly with a team desperate for a goaltender. Imagine a scenario where the Colorado Avalanche, who appeared uncertain about Alexandar Georgiev last season, reach out to Don Sweeney to strike a deal.
In this case, both teams could benefit — the Avalanche could offer Swayman a contract close to what he’s seeking, while Boston could acquire a player who was a Vezina Trophy contender in the 2022-23 season.
A potential Jeremy Swayman trade may benefit the Boston Bruins
The Utah Hockey Club could also emerge as a potential contender, given their available cap space and the presence of Connor Ingram, who performed unexpectedly well last year during the team’s final season in Arizona.
No, Ingram’s stats didn’t match up to Swayman’s, but it’s important to remember that the Bruins were significantly better than the Coyotes last season. Ingram could serve as a strong 1A option with Korpisalo as the 1B. To clarify, this wouldn’t be a simple goalie-for-goalie trade — Boston would receive additional assets in this deal.
A potential sleeper team in this situation could be the St. Louis Blues, who are aiming to get younger. While Jordan Binnington is a solid goaltender, he’s now 31, and the Blues might consider trading him to a contender in exchange for someone with elite potential, like Swayman.
The challenge here is that St. Louis has Joel Hofer, a rising star who seems to be in line as their future goalie. Bringing in Swayman would require a shift in plans. However, Swayman is more proven at this point, and if Blues GM Doug Armstrong sees an opportunity, he might reach out to Sweeney if trading Swayman becomes inevitable.
As you can see, if the Bruins are pushed to the point where trading Swayman becomes their only option, it doesn’t mean the deal couldn’t benefit them. While they might not find an immediate long-term solution at goaltender, they could still turn the situation to their advantage if Don Sweeney handles it well.
