With the ongoing contract drama surrounding Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM Brad Treliving might have an opportunity to make a franchise-altering move. As tension builds between Swayman, his agent Lewis Gross, and Bruins management, could the Maple Leafs capitalize on the situation and land a goaltender that could be the missing piece they’ve long sought?
It all began when the Bruins offered Swayman a contract that was quickly refuted by the player and his camp. Bruins GM Cam Neely’s unprofessional response added fuel to the fire, creating an air of uncertainty about Swayman’s future with the team. While many assume the situation will eventually resolve with Swayman signing in Boston, his availability has caught the attention of several teams in need of a future elite goaltender—Toronto being a prime candidate.
For the Maple Leafs, this could be a shot at redemption. In the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, they passed on Swayman in the 4th round, opting instead for Ian Scott—a now-retired goaltender who never played in the NHL. That decision feels like a long-standing curse for the Leafs, who have frequently found themselves making miscalculated moves, particularly when it comes to goaltending. But now, they have a chance to get it right.
The boldest, and perhaps riskiest, option would be for the Leafs to engage in trade talks with the Bruins. Trading within their division—and to a heated rival no less—is no easy task, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. The Maple Leafs would need to make cap space, and Mitch Marner’s hefty contract, which is nearing expiration, provides a potential solution. By trading Marner, Toronto could not only free up significant salary cap room but also acquire the draft capital and prospects necessary to entice Boston into a deal.
The Bruins wouldn’t let Swayman go cheaply. A package involving high draft picks, or a combination of picks and prospects like Topi Niemala and Fraser Minten, would likely be required. The asking price would be steep, but that’s the cost when dealing for a young, potentially elite goaltender. It’s a long shot, but the Maple Leafs have executed blockbuster trades with the Bruins in the past, and they could do it again.
An alternative approach could be for the Leafs to tender an offer sheet to Swayman. This tactic would force Boston into a corner, potentially pressuring them into either matching the offer or letting Swayman walk. Considering Swayman could command a contract in the range of $8-9 million annually, Toronto would have to give up significant compensation in the form of a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-round pick—pricey, but feasible given the Leafs’ low draft positions in the coming years.
In this scenario, Marner’s contract remains a challenge, but trading him to free up cap space and acquire additional draft picks could allow Toronto to meet the compensation demands while keeping valuable prospects within the organization. This strategy might be more cost-effective in the long run, as it would require giving up draft picks rather than key players.
For years, the Maple Leafs have struggled to find consistency between the pipes, cycling through goalies without finding a long-term solution. Jeremy Swayman could be that solution. At just 25 years old, he has already shown flashes of elite potential and could be the cornerstone goaltender Toronto has desperately needed. His youth, skillset, and ability to develop into a franchise goalie make him a perfect fit for the Leafs’ current core.
Acquiring Swayman would not only address a major need but would also signal to the rest of the NHL that the Maple Leafs are serious about contending for a Stanley Cup. It’s an opportunity for Toronto to rewrite a draft-day wrong and secure their future in net for the next decade.
The opportunity to acquire a goaltender of Jeremy Swayman’s caliber doesn’t come around often. While the road to landing him is fraught with challenges—whether it’s trading with a divisional rival or leveraging an offer sheet—the potential payoff is immense. For a franchise that has often been plagued by miscalculations in crucial moments, the Maple Leafs have a chance to make a calculated, decisive move that could alter their trajectory for years to come.
It may be a few years late, but there’s still time for Jeremy Swayman to don a Maple Leafs jersey—the way it was supposed to be.
