Training camps have commenced across the League as teams gear up for the upcoming season. However, NHL rumors do not rest.
Sidney Crosby has signed an extension in Pittsburgh, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have signed new contracts in Detroit, and Thomas Harley has signed with Dallas. Dawson Mercer and the New Jersey Devils agreed to a new contract early Friday morning.
However, several free agents, such as Jeremy Swayman and Cole Perfetti, are still seeking contracts. Brock Boeser, who is eligible for extension, also requires a contract.
In this edition of NHL Rumors, we look at the latest developments with Swayman and the Bruins, as well as what Boeser and the Canucks intend to accomplish.
Let’s take a look at some NHL rumors as the preseason begins.
NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks
When will Jeremy Swayman sign a new deal?
As reported on the Full Press NHL Podcast, the Boston Bruins and Jeremy Swayman are in contract negotiations. As noted, there has been optimism because both parties want to sign a long-term contract. However, when camp opened on Wednesday, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney expressed irritation because he had not signed his top target.
“Jeremy Swayman will not be in attendance tomorrow on the ice,” according to Sweeney. “He has chosen to wait, and appropriately so, until the contract is finalized. We intend to continue to negotiate a contract. I’m sad that when you put something as a priority in a general management position, you do your best to achieve it, and I haven’t been able to do so yet.”
According to the podcast, the agreement on the table dates back to the spring and is worth $8.5 million AAV over eight years. Swayman has taken over as Boston’s starting goaltender, as Linus Ullmark has moved to Ottawa. Many people expected the transaction to be completed quickly. Swayman has made every effort to be in town and attend “captain’s practices,” but he recognizes that this is a business.
The Bruins enjoy the compensation hierarchy and seeing everyone fall into place. The similar circumstance occurred with David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, and everything worked out. Sweeney hopes this problem does not continue into the season.
The true question, according to Jamie McLennan of RG.org, is whether the Bruins consider Swayman to be one of the top eight goaltenders.
Brock Boeser to Play Out the Season, Extension Talks on Hold
Moving to the Great White North, Vancouver Canucks player Brock Boeser is available for an extension on July 1st and plans to play out the season before discussing a contract.
“Just let it play out,” Boeser told NHL.com of his contract status. “Obviously, coming from a blood clot, I believe I have a lot to prove, just coping with that minor setback. So I’m just focusing on having a fantastic camp like last year and getting off to a good start this season.”
Boeser is entering the final year of his contract, which pays him $6.65 million. Last season, he scored 30 and 40 goals for the first time. He led the Canucks in playoff goals and tied for the club lead in points. However, he stated that he was unable to play in Game 6 of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers due to a blood clot.
As Rob Simpson told Full Press Hockey, he wants to establish that it was not a one-off season.
“Boeser six and a half million.” I recall when he signed his last one; it was fairly high for the time. He had some personal troubles a few of seasons ago, with his father dying, which kind of pushed the conclusion of one season into the beginning of another, and then he fractured his hand,” Simpson explained. “It was basically a horrible run for him, and he didn’t reach the 30-goal threshold.
And then, all of a sudden, he explodes and has a fantastic season. Very good for him. He’s a lovely kid and a great individual. I’m glad for him in that way. I do not know. I don’t know how they’ll approach us or how long they’ll wait to take care of it; I believe they’ll be cautious. Although he’s only 27, he’s not one of these guys in their mid-30s. He still has a lot of potential, and he’s coming off an excellent season.”
It will be fascinating to see what the Canucks pay him, considering Elias Pettersson recently inked an eight-year, $92.8 million agreement. If Boeser has another season like this, the Canucks will have to compensate him. Or they let him go, and another team pays him in free agency. The good news is that Boeser has returned to playing.
That concludes this round of NHL Rumors. Stay tuned for another jam-packed edition, which will be released soon.
