Jeremy Swayman Is Officially The Guy For The Bruins
I never understood the Bruins’ approach with their goalie situation. They had two hot young goalies who both had promise in the form of Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman. They had two old washed up guys in Tuukka Rask and Jaro Halak. The Bruins choose the latter and got bounced from the playoffs.
The following offseason, they let Halak walk and traded Vladar for a pack of sunflower seeds. Boston saved a spot on the roster for Rask again. Then committed too much money to Linus Ullmark for no damn reason. All to eventually send the best guy Swayman down to the NHL.
At some point, wisdom prevailed. Rask retired because he doesn’t have it anymore. Ullmark continued to perform like the mediocre bum that he is. Every time the young gun from the University of Maine is out there, he looks damn good doing it. Swayman (or Swagman as I like to call him) is the guy now for the Bruins.
Swayman, 23, has been unbelievable during his official rookie campaign for the Bruins. The Alaskan native is 14-7-3 this year for Boston while posting a 1.95 GAA and .930 SV%. I’m not sure there has been a better goalie all year outside of Igor Shesterkin who continues to activate god mode in net.
I just don’t see why this was a surprise? Use the eye test! Swayman was great and looked great in his short stint last year. Swayman had a .900 QS% last year and just looked nimble and spry. Swayman’s adjusted goals against average is first in the NHL this season.
Credit whoever you want. Bruce Cassidy? The Bruins defense? Or maybe the hot gun from Maine is just damn good? What matters is this Bruins team is different. Not like the ones in the past where you knew a Rask choke job was coming. OR the time when you felt the 2019 Stanley Cup disappear 30 seconds into Game 7.
We’re seeing flashes of a young Tim Thomas. Sure, we’re not going to go there yet but this kid is good, young, and cheap contractually. For the first time in a long time, the Bruins have more than one line that can consistently score. The perfection line doesn’t exist anymore. Jake DeBrusk is top line now and is somehow on fire? Pastrnak has more goals than anybody since January 1st and has taken Taylor Hall back to the level he should be playing at.
Can I interest anyone in a Thomas Hertl second line center role next to Pasta and Hall? Hmm. I haven’t even gotten to Charlie McAvoy yet whose offensive game is exploding and is absolutely one of the 5-10 best defensemen on the planet.
The Swagman is coming, the Swagman is coming, the Swagman is coming!
Don’t mind him. That’s cracked out Paul Revere screaming at the clouds because he knows the Bruins finally have a chance again.
How good is Jeremy Swayman? Good enough to guide Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand to a Stanley Cup to properly celebrate their careers? We’re about to find out because I’m not sure those two have many more cracks at the apple.
