Is Jeremy Swayman about to pull a reverse-Ullmark on the Boston Bruins? The ink is barely dry on Linus Ullmark’s ticket out of town, and now the Bruins are locked in a contract standoff with their other star goalie.
But Swayman’s holdout is just the tip of the iceberg. As the NHL gears up for the 2024-25 season, the league is buzzing with uncertainty.
GMs are feeling the heat, players are battling for new contracts, and surprise injuries are already shaking things up. Buckle up, hockey fans, because things are about to get interesting.
General Managers Feeling the Heat
Let’s face it, some GMs are starting the season with a target on their backs. Rob Blake in Los Angeles, for example, is feeling the pressure after three straight first-round exits at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
You can’t keep blaming the hockey gods when McDavid sends you packing year after year. The Kings need a deep playoff run, and they need it now, or Blake might be updating his resume.
Over in Detroit, Steve Yzerman is facing his own demons. Eight seasons without a playoff appearance is an eternity in Hockeytown.
The Wings are showing signs of life, but Yzerman needs to turn potential into results, and fast. The clock is ticking.
And let’s not forget the poor soul running the show in Buffalo. Thirteen seasons without a playoff berth?
That’s not just a drought; it’s practically desertification. This GM better hope for a miracle on ice, or he’ll be the first casualty of the season.
Contract Chaos and Trade Rumors
Speaking of pressure, how about those contract years? Mitch Marner is playing out the final year of his deal in Toronto, and you know that’s going to be a season-long saga.
Will he stay or will he go? Stay tuned.
Then there’s Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh. He’s coming off a Norris Trophy season, but his recent performance has been less than stellar, and now he’s battling an injury. The Pens are hoping he can regain his form, but with a hefty contract and questions about his durability, Karlsson is a walking question mark.
And let’s not forget the Jacob Trouba situation in New York. His $8 million cap hit for the next two seasons had the rumor mill churning all summer. Will the Rangers try to move him again, or will he be skating on thin ice in the Big Apple?
Swayman’s Stalemate
But the biggest contract drama has to be in Boston. After trading away Ullmark, the Bruins offered Swayman an eight-year, $62.4 million deal.
That’s a lot of dough, right? Well, apparently not enough for Swayman and his agent, Lewis Gross.
They reportedly want closer to $68 million. To make matters worse, Bruins president Cam Neely fanned the flames with his now-infamous "64 million reasons" comment.
“I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now”
Ouch. Talk about adding fuel to the fire. Frank Seravalli summed up the situation perfectly on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey:
[Swayman and Gross] are very disappointed in what Neely said. I think if you look at it from both sides’ perspectives…this really seemed like a tactical error by the Bruins.
This felt like a team that was cracking under the weight of probably not having their future No. 1 in net to start the season…My understanding is that the Bruins have offered eight years x $7.8 million, which is $62.4 [million]. So, maybe Cam Neely had a bit of fun with numbers…$1.6 million is where they were off.
I think the Swayman camp has been asking for eight [years] x $8.5 million, which is $68 million, and the Bruins were somewhere close to $6.5 [million]. So, the Bruins have gone from $6.5 [million] to $7.8 [million], they feel like they’ve moved a lot…They probably think, “Hey, we’ve moved a ton, now it’s your turn,” and the fact that hasn’t happened apparently has them frustrated.
The Bruins are betting big on Swayman as their goalie of the future, but this standoff has the potential to get messy. Will they cave to his demands, or will this turn into a long, drawn-out battle? Stay tuned.
Injury Bug Bites Early
Speaking of uncertainty, you can’t talk hockey without mentioning injuries. The Montreal Canadiens are already feeling the pain.
Top prospect David Reinbacher is out for 5-6 months after knee surgery. That’s a tough break for the young defenseman.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, newly acquired forward Patrik Laine is also sidelined with a knee sprain. He’s expected to miss 2-3 months.
Laine’s had his ups and downs in the NHL, but when he’s on, he can light it up. Let’s hope he can bounce back quickly from this setback.
It’s a cruel twist of fate for Laine, who was injured in an awkward collision with Toronto’s Cédric Paré during a preseason game. The Habs had high hopes for Laine after sending Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the former second-overall pick, who once scored a career-high 44 goals and 70 points for the Winnipeg Jets back in 2017-18.
Blue Jackets Navigate Tragedy and Cap Crunch
And finally, a bit of news from Columbus that goes beyond the usual hockey drama. The Blue Jackets were thrown a curveball this offseason with the tragic passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The NHL granted the team an exception to the salary cap floor, meaning they don’t have to spend the minimum amount this season. It’s a compassionate move by the league, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances the Blue Jackets are facing.
The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported that the Blue Jackets are actually less than $1 million under the cap floor right now, so they have some flexibility to add a veteran presence before the season starts.
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