These Dates Could Affect The Bruins Roster

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Austin Sabourin
July 10, 2023 (10:52 PM)

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Following the conclusion of NHL free agency and the Boston Bruins development camp, the focus of the Bruins' front office now shifts to the remainder of the offseason.

The NHL and NHLPA recently announced the arbitration hearing dates for Boston's eligible restricted free agent (RFA) players, namely Trent Frederic (Aug 1) and Jeremy Swayman (July 30), who are part of the Black and Gold.

Fortunately, agreeing to arbitration eliminates the possibility of an offer sheet, although it's widely understood that players like Swayman and Frederic have a strong desire to remain with the Bruins.

While it may generate click-worthy stories to suggest that teams like the Winnipeg Jets would pursue Swayman with an offer sheet, the likelihood of such a scenario is incredibly slim.

Another positive aspect is that scheduling an arbitration hearing doesn't prevent the two sides from reaching a separate contract agreement before the hearing takes place. However, once the hearing commences, both parties are bound by the arbitration process.

"We understand there's a pathway, and a suitable solution will be reached in due course..."

�Don Sweeney

If that's the case, any resulting contracts would likely span one or two years. Nonetheless, both the Bruins and the players aim to avoid arbitration, as evidenced by the recent signings of non-arbitration eligible restricted free agents Jakub Lauko and Kyle Keyser.

"We're diligently working towards that goal. We maintain regular communication with all three players and their representatives, and that's always the objective,"

expressed Don Sweeney when asked about avoiding salary arbitration with the three RFAs. "However, we acknowledge there's a process, and the right solution will be found. Ultimately, these players will be part of our organization. Arbitration is simply a tool that may be utilized by either party, and we hope to steer clear of it if possible."

Having $5.5 million in salary cap space, according to PuckPedia, the Bruins aspire to accommodate all three players within the existing cap constraints.

Ultimately, the outcome may largely depend on the 24-year-old Swayman, who has demonstrated impressive performance, placing him among the ranks of promising young goaltenders.