Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman receives seriously high praise in latest rankings
As August drags on (or flies by depending on the amount of fun you’re incorporating in your day-to-day life as summer dwindles), Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract to his name.
But that doesn’t mean Swayman is out of the news cycle entirely. Just the opposite, in fact, as Swayman received his highest praise yet in the NHL’s Network annual ranking of the ‘Top 10 Goalies Right Now’, with Boston’s starter checking in at No. 4 on this year’s list.
The list put an emphasis on the 2023-24 season, as well as the results of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the latter certainly explaining Swayman’s jump up the board.
Boston’s starter for 12 of their 13 playoff games, the 25-year-old Swayman downright excelled behind a B’s defense that was shaky at times, with an insane (and postseason-best) .933 save percentage, along with 13.3 goals saved above expected (per Moneypuck.com).
In addition to his breakout postseason, Swayman was an All-Star during the regular season, and won the Jennings Trophy with Linus Ullmark during the 2022-23 season.
And in case you’re wondering, the only three goalies the NHL Network had above Swayman on this list were the Bolts’ Andrei Vasilevskiy at three, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck in the two hole, and the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin in the No. 1 spot.
Ex-Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark also made the list, with the Bruin-turned-Senator checking in at No. 10 on this year’s list after taking a step back from what was a Vezina-winning season in 2022-23.
In between Ullmark at No. 10 and Swayman at No. 4 (and going from No. 5 through No. 9), you had New York’s Ilya Sorokin, Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko, the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky, Jake Oettinger out of Dallas, and the Predators’ Juuse Saros.
Bruins announce sweater numbers for 6 new players
Max Jones: No. 49
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: Max Jones #49 of the Anaheim Ducks skates up ice during the second period of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Honda Center on January 03, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Moving from Anaheim to Boston, Max Jones will bring his No. 49 with him. Jones worn No. 49 even before his Anaheim days, actually, as he also wore that number during his time with OHL London. It’s a number seldom seen on a Bruins lineup sheet, and Jones will actually be the first Bruins player to wear No. 49 for the club since Rich Peverley did during his three-season run with the club from 2011 through 2013.
Jones is coming off a 2023-24 campaign that featured five goals, 15 points, and a career-high 127 hits in 52 games.
Mark Kastelic: No. 47
Dec 3, 2022; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Mark Kastelic (47) fights with San Jose Sharks left wiing Jonah Gadjovich (42) in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY Sports)
Acquired in the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, Mark Kastelic will begin his Bruins career wearing No. 47. Kastelic did wear No. 47 in Ottawa, and he will be the first Bruins player to wear No. 47 since Torey Krug.
Overall, Kastelic, who projects to at either center or right wing on Boston’s fourth line, will be just the 11th player to wear No. 47 in B’s history, and will be the first forward to wear the number since Marty St. Pierre in 2009.
Joonas Korpisalo: No. 70
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – APRIL 02: Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Minnesota Wild in the second period at Xcel Energy Center on April 02, 2024 in St Paul, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Boston’s new backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo will stick with the No. 70 he’s worn throughout his NHL career, as Boston will mark Korpisalo’s fourth stop with a No. 70, with that number worn by the Finnish netminder in Columbus, Los Angeles, and Ottawa ahead of his trade to The Hub. This is actually a goalie-friendly number in Bruins history, too, with three of its four previous owners also being goaltenders, from Matt DelGuidice to Tim Thomas to Malcolm Subban all wearing that number during stints in the Black and Gold’s crease. In fact, Jesper Boqvist is the only player to wear No. 70 and not play goaltender for the Bruins while wearing that number (they should’ve given him a game in net).
Elias Lindholm: No. 28
Feb 17, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Lindholm (23) skates during warm up prior to a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Arena. (Bob Frid/USA TODAY Sports)
After wearing No. 23 in Vancouver, new top-line center Elias Lindholm will switch back to the No. 28 he wore in both Carolina and then Calgary. Derek Forbort was the last Bruin to wear No. 28, and overall Lindholm will be the ninth different player since 2005-06 to wear No. 28 for the club. The most notable of that group has to be Mark Recchi, who wore No. 28 for the club from 2009 through 2011. Lindholm currently projects to skate to the left of David Pastrnak on Boston’s first line, with left-wing options ranging from Pavel Zacha to Brad Marchand.
Riley Tufte: No. 10
Nov 22, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche forward Riley Tufte (10) celebrates his goal in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. (Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)
One of Boston’s many depth signings on July 1, the Bruins have confirmed that Riley Tufte will wear No. 10 with the Bruins. Should he make the Bruins, Tufte will be the first Bruins skater to wear No. 10 since A.J. Greer in 2022-23.
Tufte, a first-round pick in 2016, had one goal and an assist in five games for the Avalanche a season ago.
Nikita Zadorov: No. 91
May 8, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) celebrates his goal against the Oilers during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Bob Frid/USA TODAY Sports)
The only ‘certainty’ on the number front ahead of this announcement, Nikita Zadorov was actually introduced with a No. 91 jersey when he came into Boston for a visit and press conference in early July. Zadorov had worn 16 in three straight stops before wearing No. 91 in Vancouver. That will remain the case in Boston, too, with No. 16 retired for Rick Middleton and No. 91 available. Zadorov’s reason for No. 91 is simple: It’s No. 16 flipped upside down.
Zadorov will be just the second player to wear No. 91 in B’s history, and the first since Marc Savard (2006-11). Ironically enough, Savard coached Zadorov during Zadorov’s time with the Flames.
