Jeremy Swayman leads Team USA to gold at Worlds, eyes Bruins revival
After a disappointing NHL season, Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman shines at World Championship with unbeaten record and gold medal for Team USA.
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| Goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal during the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship final between Switzerland and the USA at Avicii Arena on May 25, 2025, in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo by Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Putri
Jeremy Swayman may have just played the most important seven games of his professional career—and not one of them took place in the NHL. The Boston Bruins goaltender was sensational for Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, delivering a gold-medal-winning performance that could mark the turning point in a year otherwise filled with doubt, frustration, and unmet expectations.
Swayman, 26, finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, culminating in a 25-save shutout over Switzerland in the final on Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden. The shutout sealed a 1-0 victory for the United States and ended a 92-year drought for the Americans, who hadn’t claimed gold in the World Championship since 1933.
For the Bruins and their fans, this performance offered a glimmer of hope that Jeremy Swayman’s Team USA gold could serve as the catalyst for his long-term resurgence—one that began under less-than-ideal circumstances.
From disappointment to redemption
The 2024–25 NHL season had been anything but kind to Swayman. After an off-season filled with contract uncertainty, he finally signed an eight-year, $66 million deal with the Bruins just before the season opener against the Florida Panthers. The delay in finalizing the deal caused him to miss training camp, and that absence loomed large over his performance throughout the year.
Despite being thrust into the starting role after the Bruins traded Linus Ullmark, Swayman never quite found his rhythm. His inconsistent play contributed to a forgettable 33-39-10 season for Boston, which fell far short of playoff contention. The team’s underperformance led to a late-season selloff and a host of unanswered questions about its future.
It was with that weight on his shoulders—and a need to restore his confidence—that Swayman joined Team USA for the World Championship.
Earning his place and seizing the moment
Upon arriving in Sweden, Swayman was not guaranteed the starting role. He shared netminding duties with Seattle Kraken’s Joey Daccord, who started the Americans’ first game on May 9 with a 26-save shutout against Denmark.
The two alternated starts in the early rounds, but Swayman pulled ahead with a 25-save effort in a 5-2 win over Czechia on May 20. From that point forward, he owned the crease. By the end of the tournament, Swayman had posted two shutouts in seven games and recorded a .921 save percentage—solidifying himself as the backbone of the American squad.
His gold medal-winning performance was a powerful rebuttal to the narrative that had followed him through the NHL season. More importantly, it was the reset he needed.
A deeper meaning behind the gold
This wasn’t just about international glory. For Jeremy Swayman, Team USA’s gold medal run symbolized redemption. The swagger that had defined his earlier career—most notably during the Bruins' 2024 playoff battles against the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs—had seemingly disappeared over the past year. But in Sweden, it was back.
The pressure to perform was immense. He wasn’t just competing with Daccord but was also aiming to prove himself worthy of a spot on the 2026 Olympic roster. With stalwarts like Connor Hellebuyck facing scrutiny after poor playoff performances and Jake Oettinger surging, the competition for Team USA’s Olympic net is wide open. Swayman made his case loudly and convincingly.
Restoring belief in Boston
As the Bruins look ahead to the 2025–26 NHL season, Jeremy Swayman’s Team USA gold offers more than a feel-good story. It provides tangible evidence that the goaltender can return to elite form.
Swayman is considered one of the Bruins’ franchise cornerstones, alongside forward David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy. When he’s playing at his best, he changes games—not just by making routine saves, but by stealing wins. His ability to turn momentum with key stops is as critical as Pastrnak’s goals or McAvoy’s bone-rattling hits.
It’s why the Bruins handed him a long-term deal. It’s also why his struggles last season were so alarming.
A World Championship that mattered
Some might downplay the significance of the World Championship, arguing that it doesn’t compare to the Stanley Cup Playoffs or that the absence of many NHL stars diminishes its value. But for Swayman and Team USA, the accomplishment is real and meaningful.
He wasn’t alone in shining overseas. Teammate David Pastrnak led all skaters in scoring with 15 points, while Elias Lindholm wasn’t far behind with 14. Defensemen Andrew Peeke and Mason Lohrei also contributed to the Americans’ historic run.
Still, among all the Bruins representatives, it was Swayman who had the most at stake—and arguably, the most to prove.
Eyes on the future
Swayman will now enter the offseason with renewed momentum. Physically, he’ll undergo the necessary recovery period. Mentally, he’s in a far better place than he was six weeks ago. He’s a gold medalist, a national hero, and a goaltender who looks once again capable of carrying a franchise.
Whether the 139 saves he made in Stockholm will translate to NHL dominance remains to be seen. But there’s no denying the shift in perception—and potentially, in trajectory. Jeremy Swayman’s Team USA gold may be the most important moment of his young career, not just for what it means now, but for what it promises ahead.
For Bruins fans still reeling from a painful season, Swayman’s revival might be the first step toward a brighter future.
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