Bruins 2024 training camp: Four key storylines to watch Originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The start of the 2024-25 NHL season is almost upon us, which means training camps across the league are about to begin.
The Boston Bruins will open camp Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts, as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Expectations remain high for the Bruins. They won a playoff series last season for the first time since 2021, but for the second straight year, their postseason run ended against the Florida Panthers.
The B’s were very busy during the offseason. They made a big splash in free agency to sign Elias Lindholm, center of the top 6 and Top Four defender Nikita Zadorov. They too traded former Vezina Trophy-winning goalkeeper Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in a move that freed up salary cap space and brought in two players.
This roster is one of the top-heavy and tallest in the league, which could make the Bruins even more difficult to play against, especially when the calendar turns to April and May.
Below are four key storylines to watch as Bruins training camp gets underway.
Jeremy Swayman’s contract situation and the competition for the backup goalkeeper position
The biggest question surrounding the Bruins as the start of training camp approaches is the status of No. 1 goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The 25-year-old netminder remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.
Swayman deserves a big raise after earning $3.475 million last season, the salary he was awarded in arbitration. Both sides decided not to referee againwhich is not surprising considering how explicit Swayman has been about not enjoying the arbitration process.
Swayman is a top-10 goaltender and was the standout player at his position during the first two rounds of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins were reportedly eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. If it weren’t for Swayman’s brilliance at the net.
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