Jeremy Swayman’s contract standoff with the Boston Bruins is becoming increasingly concerning as the regular season approaches. Bruins reporter Jimmy Murphy, speaking on the “Fifth Liners Podcast,” suggested that the dispute could drag on for months, speculating that Swayman’s agent, Louis Gross, may be the driving force behind the holdout. Murphy commented, “I think this is going to December 1st. If we don’t see something in the next two weeks, it’s in for the long haul.” Gross has a history of prolonged negotiations, as seen in his dealings with Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander.
William Nylander’s infamous contract standoff with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 extended all the way to the December 1 deadline. He didn’t play in a regular-season game before signing, missing a significant portion of the season as a result.
“A scout friend of mine pointed out, he said, ‘I’ve got a weird feeling about this Swayman situation. I think it’s going to drag on for a long time.’ I asked him why, and he replied, ‘Do you not remember William Nylander?’” Murphy explained. “Then I realized it’s the same agent for both, Louis Gross. Nylander, to this point in the salary cap era, had the longest holdout. He missed training camp and didn’t play until December 2nd, signing just three hours before the 5 PM deadline on December 1st in 2018 to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
The similarities between Swayman’s current contract impasse and William Nylander’s holdout have led Murphy to speculate that Swayman’s agent, Louis Gross, might be using the same negotiation tactics. Swayman, now the Bruins’ undisputed No. 1 goalie following Linus Ullmark’s trade to the Ottawa Senators, holds significant leverage. Reportedly, Swayman is seeking a deal worth $10 million per year, which would place him among the highest-paid goaltenders in the NHL. However, the Bruins are hesitant to meet that valuation and are offering closer to $6.2 million, as noted by Ryan Whitney. With the regular season set to begin on October 8 against the Florida Panthers, it appears likely that Boston may have to start without Swayman in net.
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