Difficult Talks: Bruins Failing to Complete Swayman Deal…
There is a fair amount of justified frustration among Boston Bruins supporters right now.
They had Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark in goal last season, who were possibly the best duo in the NHL.
Now, one of them is on another team, and the other isn’t under contract with training camp approaching.
But while questions abound surrounding Swayman’s future, the fact GM Don Sweeney is managing it should be a relief to B’s fans. We anticipate that Sweeney, who has a strong track record of problem-solving, will figure out a way to make the Swayman scenario work out.
For example, Sweeney assembled a squad the previous season that made it to the second round despite missing seasoned star centers David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. To cover that gap, he subsequently brought in Elias Lindholm. In each of his nine seasons in charge, Sweeney has guided the Bruins to the postseason, including five trips to the second round.
Sweeney was elected GM of the year in 2019, the same year the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup final. In the previous five years, he has also led the Bruins to two Atlantic Division championships and an NHL-high 65 victories and 135 points in the 2022–23 season.
True, Boston has not won a Stanley Cup during Sweeney’s general managership, but that was never the goal. Sweeney has not been flawless either; after trading Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, he lost all negotiating leverage with Swayman, and he could have to give up offensive and defensive depth to make room for their starting goalie.
