After a rocky year defined by contract drama and career-worst numbers, Jeremy Swayman’s rebound with Team USA is giving the Bruins something they haven’t had in months—hope.
From holdout to letdown: swayman’s season unraveled fast
This past season wasn’t what the Bruins—or Jeremy Swayman—had envisioned.
The goalie showed up without a contract, missed all of training camp and the preseason, and sparked fears that things might drag on into the regular season.
Some fans expected a Nylander-style saga. Instead, Boston locked him up in dramatic fashion just 48 hours before opening night—eight years, $8.25 million per.
That kind of investment comes with expectations. What followed fell miles short.
Swayman never found his footing. He limped through the year with a 22-29-7 record, a bloated 3.11 goals-against average, and a .892 save percentage—numbers that would raise red flags for any netminder, let alone a newly paid franchise cornerstone.
The Bruins, already wobbling in other areas, needed a stabilizing presence in goal. They got the opposite.
Now he’s quietly building back confidence—across the ocean
With Boston’s season cut short, Swayman accepted an invitation to join Team USA at the IIHF Men’s World Championship.
It’s not the biggest spotlight, but sometimes a change of scenery is all a goalie needs.
Through four starts, Swayman has looked sharp, focused, and—perhaps most importantly—comfortable.
He picked up a 25-save win against Team Czechia, facing off against teammate David Pastrnak.
That performance brought his tournament record to a clean 4-0, with a solid 1.97 goals-against average.
Jeremy Swayman improved to 4-0 with a 1.97 GAA at the 2025 #MensWorlds with a 25-save win over Czechia on Tuesday in USA’s final preliminary round contest.
Yes, Team USA is stacked. But Swayman’s calm, calculated game stands out, and that’s something the Bruins haven’t seen in a while.
Bruins still believe, but the margin for error is gone
Make no mistake: this isn’t a redemption arc just yet.
International play doesn’t erase what happened over 82 games. But it does give the Bruins something to lean on heading into the offseason.
They committed long-term to Swayman. That kind of deal doesn’t just get walked back. What they need now is proof that the version of him showing up for Team USA, the one tracking pucks cleanly and playing with swagger, can show up in Boston when it matters.
Next season might be the biggest test of his career.
If he picks up where he left off overseas, the Bruins might have their No. 1 goaltender after all.
If not? This past year might start to look like the beginning of a very expensive mistake.
