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From Trade Talk to Backbone: Swayman Carrying Boston

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 8:49 PM ET

The Boston Bruins are finding themselves in a solid position—holding a wild card spot with 12 games remaining in the season. They’ve been leaning heavily on elite goaltending from Jeremy Swayman to stay competitive—which is a positive twist given that it wasn’t all that long ago Swayman trade talk had surfaced.

After the departure of Linus Ullmark and a shaky 2024–25 season, questions swirled about whether Swayman was the right guy to retain and sign. He struggled to be the only top goalie in Boston, trade speculation picked up, and insiders like Elliotte Friedman suggested multiple teams could come calling. There was a thought that Boston had committed to the wrong goalie.

Fast forward to now, and those who doubted him were seemingly too quick to judge.

Swayman has been nothing short of spectacular down the stretch, posting a 6-2-1 record with a .930 save percentage since the Olympic break. His overall numbers—28 wins and a 2.71 goals-against average — prove he’s found his game. Frankly, the Bruins wouldn’t be where they are without him. He’s literally stolen games behind an inconsistent roster.

As Joe Haggerty put it, “The Jeremy Swayman haters are awfully quiet right now. My goodness. He is playing magnificently and turning away Grade-A chances…” He added in a separate post, “it’s almost like he’s playing just as he did in the Stanley Cup playoffs a couple of years ago and people had forgotten all about that. LOL.”

Did Swayman Deserve to Get More Help?

When the contract was given out to Swayman, it was after a bit of a holdout. Eventually, the Bruins paid up, and Haggerty notes, “Swayman got the contract because he’s already proven he can be a big-time goalie in the big moments. Those guys are rare.”

Swayman is playing so well that it has led to questions about whether the Bruins went out and got him enough support. Jeff Marek was among those arguing that the Bruins should have jumped on the fact that Swayman is playing so effectively.

Marek adds that Swayman’s performances have masked issues down the middle where the Bruins’ depth at center is suspect. “It’s been unbelievable,” Nikita Zadorov said of Swayman’s play. “I mean, he’s been our best player all year.”

Swayman is living up to the $8.25 million cap hit, which is an interesting story, given that it didn’t take long after he signed for fans to ask whether the Bruins had made a big mistake. Now, the mistake might be that they didn’t get him enough help.

Next; NHL Trade Talk Weekend Rumors: McDavid’s Remarks, Matthews Plans, Expansion

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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