Swayman Looks to Bounce Back in 2025-26 After Contract Drama Hindered Previous Season
The Boston Bruins struggled on the ice during the 2024-25 season. In some ways, signs were evident all the way back in training camp. While most players were partaking in camp, management and Jeremy Swayman were partaking in a very messy contract negotiation.
This negotiation got so messy that it spilled into the public. Cam Neely made snide remarks at a press conference regarding Swayman’s demands, for instance. It wasn’t until the final few days before the season that the Anchorage, Alaska native signed an eight-year contract.
The contract negotiation played some part in Swayman’s struggles this past season. A lack of time to get into the swing of the season certainly factored into his unfortunate performances. That will be corrected this season.
The Boston star is gearing up for training camp in a few weeks. His experience last season has given him a new perspective, as well. Overall, he’s looking forward to camp this year.
“It’s an extremely important time of the year,” he said, via NHL.com. “If I didn’t have that experience, I probably wouldn’t understand the importance of it. So yeah, this definitely allowed me to prepare a little bit differently come training camp time — and looking forward to it.
“And that’s something I’ve really rallied behind is being in this locker room, just [exuding] love to everyone because I missed them at this time of year last year.”
Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman Is A New Player
Overall, the vibes are much different around the star netminder. The contract discussions are now behind him and he can fully focus on hockey. Any lingering issues don’t seem to be much of a concern for him, either.
“Sitting here, Jeremy Swayman is in a great spot and I’m really excited about that. To have that approach of creating the culture, creating my self-culture to be elite and hopefully it’ll bleed into this room and have guys follow that way. And so that’s something that I had to set a standard for myself and I know that we have a great room that’s going to do the same,” he told NHL.com.
Swayman and the Bruins have high hopes for 2025-26. And it will be interesting to see if they can achieve their goals for the upcoming campaign. Boston begins its season on October 7th when they take on Matthew Tkachuk and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Boston Star Feeling Good Entering 2025-26
Overall, the vibes are much different around the star netminder. The contract discussions are now behind him and he can fully focus on hockey. Any lingering issues don’t seem to be much of a concern for him, either.
“Sitting here, Jeremy Swayman is in a great spot and I’m really excited about that. To have that approach of creating the culture, creating my self-culture to be elite and hopefully it’ll bleed into this room and have guys follow that way. And so that’s something that I had to set a standard for myself and I know that we have a great room that’s going to do the same,” he told NHL.com.
Swayman and the Bruins have high hopes for 2025-26. And it will be interesting to see if they can achieve their goals for the upcoming campaign. Boston begins its season on October 7th when they take on Matthew Tkachuk and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Commanders OC had a surprising admission about a rookie's passion
Washington Commanders fans might see some new faces take the field Sunday at their season opener against the New York Giants. One of those names heading into Week 1 is rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
A Journey of Respect
Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury offered high praise for the rookie, pointing to his journey, persistence, and passion for the game. “Yeah, it's been interesting. He's the guy who, I have a ton of respect for his journey. There's no doubt,” Kingsbury said.
Kingsbury pointed to Croskey-Merritt’s perseverance as proof of his love for the game, even admitting it’s a path that he himself would not have taken. “To stay at Arizona and just rep on practice squad every day when you're in college, I wouldn't have done that. I would've got a job or done something else. I don't like football as much as he does apparently.”
A Path Not Easily Traveled
Croskey-Merritt’s path hasn’t been easy. He began his college career at Alabama State before transferring to New Mexico in 2023, where he had a productive season. In 2024, he made another move to Arizona, but an NCAA eligibility issue limited him to just one game. Still, his impressive year at New Mexico and standout performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl helped him earn a shot with Arizona and, ultimately, the Commanders.
The 'Hype Train for Old Bill'
“For him to do that, go to an All-Star game and then just kind of earn the reps and he can't get enough,” Kingsbury explained. “He wants to know about it, wants to practice, he's always trying to get to the front of the line. And so that's been really cool to see.”
The Commanders’ running back room already features established names, but Croskey-Merritt’s hunger has made him one of the more intriguing storylines of training camp. For a player who once had to fight just to get reps, the hype surrounding him now is a testament to how far he’s come. “We’ll see how it all goes,” Kingsbury said, “but yeah, it's a big hype train for old Bill.”
Whether or not Croskey-Merritt sees snaps against the Giants, his impact on the Commanders’ culture is already being felt. His story represents what head coach Dan Quinn wants to see from every player: competitiveness.
The Commanders don’t know exactly what Croskey-Merritt’s role will be in 2025, but one thing is sure: he’s willing to work for every opportunity.
