Bruins RFA Swayman not worried about contract talks: 'It'll work out'

Bruins restricted free-agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman may be one of the few people in Boston not worried about his lack of a new contract with training camp one month away.

"There's a lot of confidence (it'll get done)," he said during an interview with NESN. "I say that because I've treated it like business as usual this year. ... I've been working out with our guys, our staff, our players, and I know that there's something special building in this locker room this year.

"I can't be more excited about that. I know that it'll take care of itself with time, and all I can do is control how I'm gonna be a better goalie for the Boston Bruins this year. That's all I'm focused on. It'll work out. I couldn't be happier to be a Bruin."

Boston currently has around $8.6 million in projected cap space, per PuckPedia, and Swayman is the club's only notable player who remains unsigned. Evolving-Hockey projects him to ink a four-year pact with a $6.253-million cap hit, which would handsomely reward the Alaskan for his stellar 2023-24 campaign.

Swayman shared the crease with 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark during the regular season, putting up a 25-10-8 record, .916 save percentage, and 2.53 goals-against average across 44 appearances.

The 25-year-old took over in the playoffs, though, posting a dazzling .933 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average in 12 showings en route to Boston's second-round exit. Swayman ranked second among all netminders in goals saved above average (9.61) and goals above expected (11.64) at all strengths in the postseason, trailing only Igor Shesterkin in both categories.

The Bruins opened the door for Swayman to take over as the true No. 1 after trading Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June.

Swayman played out this past season on a one-year, $3.475-million deal after going through the arbitration process last offseason. Boston filed at $2 million, while Swayman's camp came in at $4.8 million.

He was eligible to go through arbitration again this summer but elected not to. Last August, Swayman said he didn't want to go through third-party contract negotiations "ever again."

The Bruins have been busy this offseason despite their starting goalie remaining unsigned. They brought in forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov on July 1, and Swayman was thrilled by both additions.

"There's a ton of momentum building in our locker room now. ... I know that everyone that's gonna come in this locker room is going to embrace the culture that we've built," he said.

Swayman added, "There's a lot of great things to come."

Selected by the Bruins in the fourth round in 2017, Swayman owns a career .919 save percentage and 79 wins across 132 contests.