Swayman 'educated' himself after 'scary' RFA process last year

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman said he better prepared himself for negotiations after the arbitration process took a toll on him last summer.

"If you were to ask me that question a year ago, I would answer truthfully, and I would say it's scary," Swayman said on the effect of contract negotiations during an appearance on the "Shut Up Marc Podcast."

"It's a lot of resentment towards people that want you to succeed, and when you're not getting compensated for your endless efforts and doing what you do best, it's a nerve-wracking feeling. Because it's your family you're fighting for."

Swayman was awarded a one-year, $3.48-million contract in arbitration last year. As a restricted free agent again in 2024, Swayman's in prime position for a bigger deal. He emerged as the Bruins' No. 1 netminder last season, and Boston, which currently has over $8 million in cap space, traded goaltender Linus Ullmark over the summer.

"And the answer I'm going to give you this year is that I've educated myself and that I understand the business side of it all," Swayman added. "It's given me a complete new mindset of understanding the business and how to react to it. I understand the cap is going up, and where it will be in years. I understand my comparables, and how I can't ruin the goalie market for other guys that are going to be in my shoes down the line."

Both Swayman and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery have recently expressed confidence in a deal being reached by the time training camp opens in September.

Swayman is coming off an impressive campaign in which he posted a .916 save percentage in 44 regular-season appearances. He was even better in the playoffs, registering a .933 clip before the Bruins were eliminated in the second round by the Florida Panthers.

Boston drafted Swayman in the fourth round in 2017. He made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season.