While some Bruins fans may have been expecting or hoping for a clean passing of the torch from Tuukka Rask to Jeremy Swayman, things haven’t quite played out that way, at least not yet.
The Bruins signed Linus Ullmark to a four-year, $20 million deal in free agency, appearing to signal that they were at least shifting to an Ullmark/Swayman platoon.
They’ll start the season that way, but the door also remains open for Rask to potentially return at some point midseason after undergoing offseason hip surgery. Rask himself sounded like someone who clearly plans and expects to be back when he joined The Greg Hill Show during the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon two weeks ago.
If there’s any concern about whether that potential Rask return might weigh on Swayman or hang over his head, he’s not showing it.
“I think he’s doing his job well, and I want to do my job well,” Swayman said when asked about Rask at Wednesday’s Boston Bruins Foundation Golf Tournament at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth. “I think both of us want to do whatever’s best for this team to win, and that’s all I care about, is whatever’s best for this team. So I’m going to do my job while I can, and I’m sure he’s going to do the same. I’m super excited to see what he does, and likewise for me.”
The 22-year-old Swayman was excellent in his first taste of NHL action last season, going 7-3-0 with a .945 save percentage in 10 starts. In a fairly small sample size, he led the NHL in both high-danger save percentage and goals saved above average per 60 minutes.
The challenge of a full 82-game NHL season will be a new one for Swayman, though. So far he has only played shorter college seasons or last year’s abbreviated pro season. He has never played more than 35 games in a season at any level, but could very well be called on to make 40-50 starts this year, especially if he’s outplaying Ullmark.
Swayman is looking forward to the challenge, which isn’t surprising for the young goalie who seems undaunted by whatever is put in front of him.
“I’m super excited for that. That’s pro hockey at its finest, is the 82-game regular season,” Swayman said. “It looks big before you start it, but I’m sure as soon as you start, I’m going to do whatever I can preparation-wise, recovery-wise to make sure that I’m coming back to the rink every day ready to play my game at the highest level. So I’m really excited for that. I expect a lot of good things to happen.”
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