Less than a year ago, Jeremy Swayman was being discussed as the future of the Boston Bruins’ crease. Now? He might be the first big name out the door.
The 26-year-old goaltender, once praised as one of the NHL’s most reliable young netminders, saw his game spiral during the 2024–25 season.
He closed out the campaign with an .892 save percentage and a worrying -11.77 GAA. But perhaps even more alarming was the -6.42 GSA — a number that paints a grim picture for a goalie carrying a long-term deal.
Swayman inked an eight-year contract extension last summer. At the time, it seemed like a home run. But now, with his no-trade clause set to activate on July 1, 2025, the Bruins may only have a few weeks left to decide whether to commit—or cut bait.
According to Bleacher Report’s Adam Getz, a surprising suitor has emerged: the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit’s crease chaos could lead them to Swayman
The Red Wings took a step forward last season, but goaltending kept dragging them back.
As Getz pointed out, Detroit finished 22nd in the NHL in all-situations save percentage—a glaring weakness on an otherwise promising roster.
The bottom line is the Red Wings were 22nd in all-situations save percentage this season as a team, and it was a big part (even if not the only part) of their goal-prevention issues,
Getz wrote.
Veterans Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot were placeholders at best. Detroit’s pipeline is still waiting on Sebastian Cossa, but even then, there’s no guarantee he becomes a dependable NHL starter.
Neither Mrazek nor Talbot is any sort of a long- or short-term option, while prospects in goal can tend to be extremely hit-and-miss. Projecting their performance long-term is an inexact science.
The bottom line is the Red Wings were 22nd in all-situations save percentage this season as a team, and it was a big part (even if not the only part) of their goal-prevention issues,
Getz added.
Bruins walking a fine line with Swayman’s value
On paper, trading Swayman now would be a gamble.
Yes, his numbers cratered this season—but the larger sample size of his career suggests this could be an outlier.
From 2021 to 2024, he was considered one of the more consistent goalies in the league.
And that’s where things get tricky. If Boston decides to sell now, they’re likely doing it at a low point in value. But if they hold—and he doesn’t rebound—they could be stuck with a long-term contract and limited flexibility.
Still, with cap pressure and an urgent need to retool after missing the playoffs, something has to give.
And moving a high-salary goalie before a no-trade clause kicks in could be one way to create space and avoid being boxed in.
Could Swayman actually end up in Detroit?
It’s far from confirmed—but it’s no longer unthinkable.
The Red Wings need stability in goal, and they have the cap space and roster makeup to take a calculated risk on a young goalie with something to prove.
For Boston, the next few weeks will be pivotal.
If they believe Swayman’s struggles were more than a one-off, a deal could come together quickly.
If not, they might just bite the bullet and bank on a bounce back.
Either way, don’t be surprised if Jeremy Swayman’s name starts popping up more as July approaches. The clock is ticking.
