Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Jeremy Swayman calls return to Bruins practice 'a breath of fresh air'

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated Oct 7, 2024 4:22 PM ET

It has been a wild offseason and training camp for Jeremy Swayman, but the Boston Bruins goalie was all smiles when he rejoined his team for morning skate on Monday.

"Great to be back. It's a breath of fresh air," the 25-year-old netminder told the media after practice.

Swayman, a restricted free agent, missed all of training camp due to a contract standoff with the Bruins that raised a lot of eyebrows and took over NHL headlines this summer. The deadlock ended on Sunday when the two sides agreed to an eight-year deal worth $66M.

Jeremy Swayman following his first skate: "Great to be back. It's a breath of fresh air...I feel ready to play...great training over at BU during this training camp. I feel like I put myself in a really good position."

Watch more practice reaction ➡️ https://t.co/luGJUvDOXw pic.twitter.com/vjk8RDVWHk
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 7, 2024

Swayman trained away from the rest of the team during the ongoing contract negotiations but said he feels he's ready for regular-season hockey.

"I feel like I put myself in a really good position to be ready to perform when I get my name called," he said on Monday.

That call could come within the next 24 hours, as the Bruins open up their 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday night in Florida against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. As of Monday afternoon, though, there was only a possibility that Swayman will start that game.