The Toronto Maple Leafs are in good position to sign Jeremy Swayman after the Bruins chose not to file for arbitration this summer. This circumstance could be a fantastic opportunity for the Leafs to get the number-one goalie that the organization sorely requires.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie position has improved since signing Anthony Stolarz, but it is still inadequate.
With Auston Matthews entering his prime, the Toronto Maple Leafs are taking a significant risk by pairing Stolarz with the injury-prone and inexperienced Joseph Woll.
While this is most likely the Leafs’ goaltender combo when the new season begins, it does not have to be.
The Boston Bruins and restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman mutually agreed to waive arbitration this summer. The Boston Herald noted that neither party wanted a repeat of last year’s arbitration ordeal.
While this situation most likely indicates that the Bruins and Jeremy Swayman are nearing an agreement on a new deal, the circumstances have also raised questions about Swayman’s desire to remain in Boston.
The Bruins have now gone all-in on Jeremy Swayman. The club traded Linus Ullmark to make Swayman the number one person. The B’s would not have traded Ullmark if they weren’t confident that Swayman would resign.
However, there is another twist to this story. Because both the Bruins and Swayman decided not to file for arbitration, Swayman is now eligible to an offer sheet. That’s where the Toronto Maple Leafs might step in and grab the goalkeeper the team urgently needs.
The Cost For the Toronto Maple Leafs to Offer Sheet Jeremy Swayman
This is when things become tough. Extending an offer sheet to Jeremy Swayman might be costly in terms of dollars and compensation.
Let us unpack that.
The Boston Herald just published an article comparing Jeremy Swayman’s new deal to the one the Nashville Predators recently paid Juuse Saros. Saros received an eight-year agreement worth $7.74 AAV.
That comparison suggests that Swayman could be looking for a new deal of around $7 million every season. That type of contract would require the Leafs to trade contracts in order to stay under the cap.
CapFriendly notes that the Leafs are presently over the cap. As a result, the Leafs couldn’t accommodate Swayman’s new contract without trading a few guys.
But wouldn’t it be worth switching contracts to get a number-one goaltender like Swayman?
The other issue is compensation. According to league standards, clubs who offer a player a contract must compensate him if he signs. The pay is based on the financial amount of the contract signed.
The Sporting News offers an excellent reference chart that includes pay depending on a contract’s dollar worth. Assume the Leafs offer Swayman $7 million. That value places compensation in the fifth bracket, requiring the Leafs to give up a first-, second-, and third-round pick as compensation.
That sounds like a reasonable price for a high-end game-changing goalie.
However, if the Leafs offer Swayman less than $6.435 million a season, the compensation will be one first-round and one third-round pick, which is much better.
Given the Maple Leafs’ need to be a top club throughout Auston Matthews’ peak, extending Jeremy Swayman’s offer sheet is well worth considering. The Leafs may outbid the Bruins and sign Swayman for seven seasons.
While fitting a large contract under the cap would be difficult, the Leafs could find a way out. The result would be a considerably better chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
