The Boston Bruins and restricted free agent goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman are still at odds over a deal, even with training camps soon to begin and the regular season quickly approaching.

On SN960 The FAN’s Big Show, Daily Faceoff source Frank Seravalli stated that while there is still a significant divide between the two sides, the situation isn’t as dire as some insiders have recently suggested.

“I believe Swayman was asking for something in the mid-$8 million range per year earlier this summer, while the Bruins were offering in the low $6 million range,” Seravalli mentioned. “That’s still a significant gap that hasn’t been closed yet.”

Regarding Swayman’s pay demand, Seravalli estimated it to be about $8 million AAV, which is less than the $10 million AAV that had been published prior to Seravalli disclosing his intelligence.

Notwithstanding the obvious necessity for the Bruins to secure Swayman after trading Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, this gulf has complicated negotiations.

“After trading Linus Ullmark, it’s clear that Swayman is a crucial piece of the Bruins’ future and the stability of their core, as goaltending has been the foundation of the team,” Seravalli stated.

The Bruins have $8.6 million in salary space as of September 1st, which should be sufficient to sign Swayman to a contract extension, whether it’s a bridge deal or a long-term one.

Bruins May Look Into Additional PTO Choices.

When the Boston Bruins signed Danton Heinen to a professional tryout (PTO) last season, they saw lightning in a bottle. Heinen, a 2014 fourth-round selection by the franchise, made his comeback to the Bruins with this. Heinen ultimately received a one-year contract as a result of this PTO, surpassing his $775,000 deal in nearly every way. He signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks this offseason, turning that one-year prove-it agreement into a sizable salary boost.

Many people overlook the fact that Alex Chiasson was also signed by the Bruins during the previous offseason on a PTO. Even if the team did not sign him to a contract, it was still worthwhile to give him a tryout slot to evaluate if the player and the organization match.

Many instantly compared the Bruins’ signing of Tyler Johnson to the Heinen situation when they announced Johnson’s PTO on Saturday. It’s reasonable to draw connections, particularly in light of the fact that the Bruins would have been so successful with Heinen only a season ago.

But it’s also logical to assume that, should they believe there are attractive opportunities on the free market, the Bruins may still be willing to accept more players to camp out on PTOs. A player like Blake Wheeler enters the picture at this point.

This may appear to be a bit of a stretch at first. Former Boston Bruins forward Wheeler played forward for the New York Rangers in 2023–24, where he finished with nine goals and twenty-one points in fifty-four games. Unfortunately, Wheeler suffered a serious leg injury in February that ended up keeping him out of the game for the rest of the regular season and all but one postseason game.

It’s unclear if Wheeler even wants to suit up for another NHL game, given his leg injury, his advanced age of 38, and remarks he made after the Rangers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Final about wanting to be there for his three children when they were growing up. However, the veteran may still be considering his options as he hasn’t formally declared his retirement from hockey.

Wheeler Might Offer the Bruins Insurance

Even in his later years with the Winnipeg Jets, Wheeler has continuously been outstanding, despite having a poor season in his only season with the Rangers. For Wheeler, who has dressed up for 71, 50, 65, 72, and 54 games over the last five seasons, respectively, availability has become a bit of a problem. It’s important to remember that he may score as many as 15 to 20 goals and contribute almost a point each game. It’s unclear if his offensive output with the Rangers was an anomaly or the norm, but this is why a PTO is such a useful option that teams should investigate.

What better venue for Wheeler to test the waters and consider the possibility of playing in the NHL again than with the team he made his breakthrough with as a rookie back in 2008? Wheeler would have the opportunity to return to the ice without committing to a full season. This would give the Bruins a chance to assess Wheeler’s remaining abilities and provide them another experienced player to challenge after training camp.

Having seasoned backup alternatives like Wheeler or Johnson might be crucial in a camp where Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell will be fiercely vying for roster places in the event that one or both of the rookies are unable to make the opening night roster.

It may not seem like the best plan to many to bring in a 38-year-old to battle against guys in their early 20s. Though general manager Don Sweeney and colleagues would prefer for their young players to step into major roles as soon as possible, this is a results-driven organization, so it’s never a bad idea to have an insurance policy in place just in case. With PTOs, there are opportunities only—no assurances. These may be very beneficial for the Bruins, Wheeler, Johnson, and any other player the team decides to bring in on a PTO.