The last time Jeremy Swayman left the ice at TD Garden in May, he was uncertain if he’d be back on Causeway Street in a Bruins jersey come October. With tough contract talks ahead and questions surrounding both his future and that of fellow goalie Linus Ullmark, Swayman reflected on his situation during Amazon’s “FACEOFF: Inside the NHL” series.
“I don’t want this to end,” Swayman said. “This could be my last time in a Bruins jersey. But I’ll do everything I can to stay a Bruin for a long time. Growing up in Alaska, this was beyond my wildest dreams.”
On Sunday, Swayman’s future was secured with an eight-year, $66 million extension. In his first game as Boston’s No. 1 goalie on Thursday, he admitted he had to take a moment to steady himself as the Garden crowd cheered him on.
Jeremy Swayman receives plenty of cheers from the TD Garden crowd. pic.twitter.com/UZ1Qb7VXz0
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 10, 2024
“It was pretty emotional, that warm welcome,” Swayman said about the crowd’s reception during player introductions. “It really shows what kind of fan base we have here. They don’t just care about the player, but the person behind the mask. I got pretty emotional stepping onto the ice and hearing that roar again.”
He added, “I’m so grateful to be part of this city and team. Moments like that make it all worth it.”
Swayman, who trained at Boston University during the Bruins’ training camp, had to quickly adjust to game action this week. Despite having just one full practice with the team, the 25-year-old was given the start in Boston’s home opener against the Canadiens on Thursday.
His performance wasn’t his sharpest, allowing four goals on 25 shots in the Bruins’ 6-4 win. However, coach Jim Montgomery attributed some of the struggles to defensive issues, not just Swayman’s rust. “We need to clean things up,” Montgomery said. “We gave up two goals off faceoffs and had five icings, two of which led to goals or power plays. Jeremy made the saves he could, but there were backdoor tap-ins due to poor coverage.”
Though Swayman’s anticipation was a bit rusty after the layoff, he still flashed his strengths in his season debut, including stopping several Grade-A chances with quick glove work and challenging opposing forwards near the crease.
After last season’s challenge to Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault for a fight, Swayman stirred up more tension on Thursday by shoving Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki in the final seconds of the second period. He waved his glove, inviting Suzuki back for more after exchanging words.
“Just my inertia going that way,” Swayman joked about the incident. “I needed a little balancing help there.”
Jeremy Swayman exchanges pleasantries with Nick Suzuki. pic.twitter.com/ZbPkrXnf5U
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 11, 2024
Expectations for Swayman will be higher in 2024-25 and beyond. With his new $8.25 million contract, he’s expected to play a key role in maintaining Boston’s defensive strength, especially as the team navigates early-season adjustments. With Linus Ullmark now in Ottawa and Joonas Korpisalo adjusting as the new backup, Swayman is poised to take on the bulk of the starts this season—an opportunity he’s been waiting for.
However, Swayman is staying focused on the present. “I’ve really worked on simplifying my life and focusing on what matters most,” he said. “Right now, it’s talking to you guys. Next, I’m getting a protein shake and hugging my dad. Keeping things simple helps me shut out the noise and focus on the task at hand when I’m at the rink.”
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