Contract extension for Jeremy Swayman?

In October 2021, Charlie McAvoy, one of the NHL's premier defensemen, agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $76 million, a reward for his outstanding performance. David Pastrnak, a superstar right wing and a top-five offensive talent, inked the biggest contract in Bruins' history in March — an eight-year agreement valued at $90 million. Last season, Pastrnak was also a contender for the Hart Trophy.

Is Jeremy Swayman, the 25-year-old goaltender, on the verge of being the next crucial player to finalize a substantial extension with the Bruins?

Swayman has been eligible to negotiate an extension since January 1.

After the Bruins' overtime victory against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Swayman shared some intriguing thoughts. During a discussion about his first-time selection for the All-Star Game, he surprisingly mentioned his experience with the arbitration process last summer. To begin with, his performance metrics are quite impressive. Out of 51 goalkeepers who have played at least 3,000 minutes since the 2021-22 season began, Swayman is fifth in save percentage (.917) and third in goals-against average (GAA) at 2.38. His play has consistently been among the top 10 goalies since the start of the 2022-23 season. Last season, he was tied for fourth in both save percentage and GAA.

However, one question remains: his ability to manage the workload of a full-time starter over an extended period. Swayman hasn't played more than 41 games in any NHL regular season. Since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, he has participated in 101 games, ranking 27th in frequency during this time. Standard starting goalies usually appear in 50 to 65 games per season. Last season, 17 goaltenders played in this range of 50 to 65 games.

NBC Sports Boston proposes that a multi-year contract, valued between $6-8 million annually, would be beneficial for both the Bruins and Swayman. Securing Swayman for the long term is crucial for the Bruins. His talent as a goaltender and his age align well with the team's other key players like McAvoy (27 years old), Pastrnak (26), Pavel Zacha (26), and Hampus Lindholm (29).