The rumor mill is working overtime, suggesting the Colorado Avalanche could land RFA netminder Jeremy Swayman.
Now, let’s be clear about something. This rumor does not come from any credible sources at the moment. It’s an idea that’s floating around online, suggesting the Colorado Avalanche could have a deal in place for Jeremy Swayman.
I make a point of not commenting on these sorts of rumors as they are nothing but clickbait for certain websites and Twitter feeds (which I shall not name). However, I’ve written for months about how Swayman could be on the move given the stalemate he and the Boston Bruins face.
There are two things to consider here.
First, initial reports suggested a deal could get done sooner rather than later. The Fourth Period reported both Darren Dreger and David Pagnotta stating that Swayman and the Bruins were close on an extension.
Then, news hit that both sides were far apart. CBS News quoted insider Elliotte Friedman saying that Swayman wanted a contract in the neighborhood of $9.5 million AAV. However, the Bruins were more in line with a $6 million to $6.5 million AAV.
That’s quite a difference. Unfortunately, the Bruins showed their hand way too soon. The club moved Linus Ullmark at the beginning of the summer, confident the Swayman contract extension would get a rubber stamp.
That brings me to my second point. Swayman played the Bruins like a fiddle. When Boston traded Ullmark, Swayman knew how much cap space the team would have going into this season. So, he drew a line in the sand and struck with it.
Now, CBS reports that the Bruins have left Swayman off their training camp roster. That move is a red light flashing a big-ol’ warning signal.
The cost for the Colorado Avalanche to land Jeremy Swayman
Earlier this summer, my colleague at Mile High Sticking Graham Tiedtke explored the possibility of the Colorado Avalanche landing Linus Ullmark. His analysis proved right insofar as the price the Ottawa Senators paid for Ullmark.
Tiedtke pointed out that Avs would need to send Alexandar Georgiev plus another piece to get Ullmark. Perhaps a second-round pick or a mid-level prospect would have gotten the deal done.
That same structure could apply to a Swayman trade. The Avs would need to send Georgiev plus another piece. Someone like Miles Wood could get the deal done.
Then again, the Bruins are not in the most favorable position. Perhaps a second and third-rounders might get the needle moving. Perhaps a prospect like Pavel Ondrej and a throw-in like Calle Rosen could entice the Bruins.
Now, there’s one other thing: Even if the Avs pulled off the deal at a bargain-basement price, the club would still need to sign Swayman. Perhaps Swayman could be convinced to sign for around $6 million per season.
That cap hit would necessitate clearing cap space. Georgiev’s $3.4 million plus the roughly $2 million in available cap space PuckPedia reports would need moving out a contract of about $2 million. As you can see, the move is completely doable as long as Swayman doesn’t stick it to the Avs, too.
Ultimately, there is no credible sourcing on this rumor, for now. It remains to be seen if the Swayman trade rumors pick up steam in the coming days. Personally, it could be that the Avs could well be in the mix as the need for a true number-one goalie is more apparent than ever.