Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman has decided not to participate in the team's training camp until a contract agreement is reached, according to general manager Don Sweeney. Swayman, who is a restricted free agent, is expected to take on the role of the team's primary starting goaltender after the departure of Linus Ullmark in the offseason.

Swayman, 25, earned $3.475 million last season on a one-year contract awarded through arbitration. However, this offseason, he opted not to file for arbitration, leaving negotiations for his next contract in the hands of Sweeney and his agent, Lewis Gross. The Bruins declined to take Swayman to arbitration, prolonging the contract discussions.

Expressing his disappointment, Sweeney stated that Swayman has made the choice to wait until a contract agreement is reached before reporting to the team. However, the general manager emphasized that the absence of the young goaltender impacts both the team's preparation and Swayman's own development.

While Sweeney did not provide a specific timeline for when a deal might be finalized, he stated his belief that Swayman would rejoin the Bruins before the December 1st deadline, which is crucial for the contract to be valid for the current season. Last season, Swayman played 44 games for the Bruins and boasts an impressive record of 79 wins, 33 losses, and 15 overtime losses.

In an unexpected move, the Bruins traded Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June, acquiring Joonas Korpisalo in return. Korpisalo is expected to share the goaltending responsibilities with 26-year-old Brandon Bussi until Swayman resolves his contract situation and returns to the team.

Reports have circulated that the Bruins offered Swayman a maximum eight-year contract, while his camp is reportedly seeking an average annual value of over $9.5 million. However, Sweeney did not address these specific figures during his statement, but he vehemently denied certain claims made in recent reports.

In particular, Sweeney pushed back on the notion that he had failed to return Swayman's calls for three weeks, refuting the claim as "inaccurate." He also dismissed a report suggesting that a deal was imminent as Bruins camp opened, labeling it as "100% inaccurate."

As negotiations continue between the Bruins and Swayman's camp, the absence of the talented young goalie looms over the team's preparation for the upcoming season. Both parties will need to find common ground soon to ensure Swayman can take his place between the pipes for the Bruins once again.