Drop the Oil

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is receiving a lot of trade interest lately.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has sparked speculation that the Boston Bruins are fielding calls from teams interested in acquiring the 26-year-old goaltender.

Among those potential suitors: the Edmonton Oilers, a team widely expected to hunt for goaltending reinforcements this summer.

I’ve been talking to some teams who might need some goaltending, or have been looking around goaltending. I do think there are going to be teams that call the Bruins about Swayman, and his no-move doesn’t kick in for another year.

said Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts Podcast.

Friedman’s comments fuel the idea that Edmonton, hungry for consistency in net, could look to buy low on Swayman, especially after a challenging 2024 campaign that saw his numbers dip significantly.

Swayman’s 2023-24 season started off on the wrong foot.

Following a contract standoff that extended into training camp, he finally secured an 8-year, $8.25 million per year deal, only to deliver his worst performance as a pro.

Through 58 games, he posted a .892 save percentage, well below his previous standards and even trailing current Oilers starter Stuart Skinner.

According to MoneyPuck’s GSAx metrics, Swayman ranked as the 12th worst goalie in the NHL last season, a significant decline from the .916 and .920 save percentages he posted the two years prior.

He also helped capture the Jennings Trophy in 2022-23, awarded to the team with the fewest goals against.

Still, there’s growing sentiment around the league that the past season was more of an outliner than a true regression.

Like other RFAs who skipped camp, Swayman never quite found his rhythm.

The Bruins as a whole also struggled, finishing last in their division, something that could prompt a wider shakeup.

The Oilers are no strangers to goalie instability

With the team positioned to contend in the near future and the salary cap expected to rise, taking a swing at a goalie like Swayman could make strategic sense.

If Edmonton believes they can help him return to form, this could be a smart bet.

Swayman’s no-movement clause doesn’t activate for another year, giving Boston a brief window to evaluate the market.

If the Bruins stumble again early next season and lean toward a retool or rebuild, Swayman might become expendable.