Bruins Goaltender Almost Landed On Another Team

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Hunter Bowman
August 19, 2023 (11:55 PM)

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Jeremy Swayman is gearing up for another season with the Boston Bruins, securing a one-year, $3.475 million contract through arbitration.

Last season was a monumental one for Boston, with Swayman and teammate Linus Ullmark clinching the William Jennings Award for allowing the fewest goals as a goaltending duo.

Swayman had different expectations back in the 2017 NHL Draft, believing he might end up playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they opted for goaltender Ian Scott instead in the fourth round.

"I thought I might be headed to Toronto when they picked a goalie in the fourth round," Swayman shared on the "Empty Netters" podcast. "I felt a bit bummed, but I stayed hopeful because I had been in touch with other teams."

However, fate had a different plan. Swayman learned from his agent and a friend that he was Boston-bound, even before he had official confirmation from the team.

"I got a text from my buddy in Alaska who was at the draft," Swayman recounted. "He congratulated me, and I was like, 'What's going on?' My phone started buzzing non-stop. It was real. I kept refreshing my phone, and there it was."

Although he experienced initial disappointment, Swayman's mood swiftly shifted to excitement upon joining the Bruins.

"We celebrated pretty hard. The unexpectedness of it all was the best part," Swayman admitted. "One moment you're devastated, and the next moment, a whole new world opens up. Sharing that experience with others was really special, and I'm thrilled it worked out the way it did."

Imagine the alternate scenario of Swayman donning the blue and white Leafs jersey instead of the black and yellow Bruins colors. How different would that have been for his career?

Source: Hockeyfeed

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