This Bruins Prospect Should Benefit From Jeremy Swayman Standoff

Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman's contract situation dominated the conversation Wednesday during a training camp opening press conference for Don Sweeney. That came as no surprise.

Until the Bruins and Swayman can agree on a contract extension, there will be understandable uncertainty about the Bruins' goaltending situation. Swayman showed his potential last spring, and if Boston is going to return to Stanley Cup contention, the most likely scenario still involves Swayman between the pipes.

That being said, it sounds like the two sides still have plenty of work to do. Sweeney acknowledged the stalemate could linger a little while longer. While he also expressed confidence in those who will be on the ice, the scenario isn't ideal for the team -- or even Swayman -- but it could be an opportunity for others in the organization. Most notably, it could be a chance for Brandon Bussi to make an impact of his own.

The 26-year-old is untested. He has yet to log a minute at the NHL level, and he didn't played more than 41 games in either of his two full seasons with Providence in the AHL. He has made the most of his opportunities, though, posting a .924 save percentage in 32 games in 2022-23 and following that up with a .913 mark in 41 games a season ago.

Now, he'll get plenty of run with the big club for as long as Swayman is away from the team. That means plenty of practice reps against NHL-caliber talent. If the season started Friday, recently acquired Joonas Korpisalo would almost certainly be the starter, and Bussi would be the logical choice for his understudy.

What might be even more important for Bussi is the chance to work closely with Bruins goalie guru Bob Essensa. That would have been the case with Swayman in camp, of course, but with the No. 1 man away from the club, Bussi should take full advantage of his opportunities for coaching.

"(Essensa has) got a great look on Brandon," Sweeney explained. "Brandon's been here, hasn't been in a game, so that's the next level. You're going to want to prove it. Then you're going to have to go and prove it on that stage. And he's going to get a good opportunity, you know, given our circumstances."

Essensa's track record speaks for itself, and the Bruins hope he can help Korpisalo regain the form he showed in Columbus, where he posted a .903 save percentage over 210 games with the Blue Jackets. The hope is the same for Bussi.

"You look at 22 years of (Essensa's) history here, and it's pretty special," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Wednesday. "He does great work in getting our goaltenders ready, no matter who they are."

That's why Bussi can't afford to get wrapped up in anything involving Swayman and must focus on his own development. He's uniquely positioned to benefit from a situation that might be a little uncomfortable for those around him. Playing time and that sort of coaching have been hard to come by for players in his standing over this run of Bruins goaltending brilliance. This is an opportunity he must seize.

Doing so could improve Bussi's standing within the organization to the point where he could fight for a roster spot, even after Swayman returns. At the very least, it's a chance to put out some good film for the rest of the NHL to see as he looks to break through and solidify himself as an NHL goalie.

So, while everyone else is waiting for and wondering when Swayman will be back in the Spoked-B, Bussi has an opportunity to take a massive step in his career progression.