Jeremy Swayman was probably going to be an important part of next year's Bruins no matter what, as he always figured to be one of the Bruins' two NHL goalies right from the start.
After Friday, though, it's not hard to imagine him being the Bruins' opening night starter. Tuukka Rask revealed that he will be undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his hip, meaning that even if he does re-sign with the Bruins, he won't play until probably January or February given the six-month recovery period.
That could leave Swayman as the No. 1 in a tandem with either Dan Vladar, Jaroslav Halak if he's re-signed, or another veteran who's brought in this offseason.
Regardless, Swayman gained some valuable experience this year, starting 10 games in the regular season as a first-year pro and then serving as Rask's backup in the postseason. He got his first taste of Stanley Cup playoff action in the third period of Game 5 against the Islanders.
Swayman said during his end-of-season press conference on Friday that the whole season was "special" for him and that he learned a lot that he'll use going forward.
"I thought it was a special year, definitely one I'll remember for a long time," he said. "It's always been a dream to put on an NHL jersey, and to be with the Boston Bruins, it was even better. It was just an awesome experience, I know that I'm super fortunate for that. I'll take what I learned this year and run with it for sure."
Swayman said the playoffs in particular left him "addicted" and wanting more.
"I think the intensity was pretty obvious to everyone," he said. "Teams are fighting for their lives and their seasons, and it was apparent. Also, seeing a full crowd at TD Garden was pretty special, too. I know that was my first time being on ice level with that. I was addicted ever since I saw that, so that was pretty cool. Playoffs, there's nothing like it. It's true what they say, and again, to be a part of that playoff push was pretty special. I'm addicted. I want to be back for more."
Swayman said he learned from just about everyone he was around, but that watching Rask was especially valuable for him.
"I couldn't have asked for anything better. He's a world-class goalie, a world-class person, so it's awesome to learn from him," Swayman said. "He battled and I think everyone knows it. His compete level is unmatched, and he brings a fire every day, especially when it's a playoff atmosphere. It's awesome to see that in some of the games that he stole, especially in Washington. It was pretty phenomenal to watch, and again, I learned so much just from watching what he does and seeing how he takes care of his body. It was a really special experience and I'm super happy about that."
Swayman said he'll take a little bit of time off now and go back home to Alaska, where he likes to hike in the mountains. Then he'll get back to training and start to get ready for next season.
And as far as being ready to take the next step and become a reliable 1 or 1A goalie for a whole season? Swayman sounds like someone who's ready to take on any challenge.
"When your name is called, you have to answer the bell, and that's how I wanted to be," Swayman said. "It's an awesome mindset to have, and I'm super happy about that. But again, everyone expects these players to pull their role, pull their weight. So I want to be that guy that people can lean on and trust. I'm super excited for that and I'm ready for more."
