Mailbag: Has Jeremy Swayman been good enough this year for BOS? How long until James Hagens and Will Zellers are Bruins?

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Thanks for the question, Tim!

Couldn't agree with you more on Will Zellers.

Here's a reminder of the trade that brought him to Boston:

Charlie Coyle should be remembered fondly for his time as a Bruin - but as time goes on, perhaps his greatest value to Boston will come from him being traded to Colorado and Zellers being part of the return.

Drafted 76th overall by the Avalanche in 2024 - Zellers hasn't had the buzz of a 1st round pick since becoming an official NHL asset.

However, since being traded to Boston - ironically - his prospect aura has started to grow.

Last season, Zellers finished with 44 goals, 27 assists, and 71 points in 52 games played for the Green Bay Gamblers (1.37 points per game) - and was named both the USHL player, and forward of the year.

So far this season in NCAA the 19 year old has 10 goals, 5 assists, and 15 points in 18 games played suiting up for North Dakota - that's good enough for 4th on the team in scoring, and tied for 4th in the nation among freshman goal scorers.

More recently, Zellers led Team USA in scoring during their first World Junior game against Germany tallying 2 goals, and 1 assist in a 6-3 win for the Americans.

Making the World Junior roster for Team USA alone speaks volumes as to how prominent of a prospect Zellers currently is - but if he can continue to be a scoring standout from that roster and in that tournament?

His stock is going to sky rocket.

Still, Zellers has some ways to go in terms of being physically ready for the NHL and so look for him to complete both his freshman and sophomore seasons at North Dakota before turning pro.

Zellers should be making a case to turn pro and crack Boston's NHL lineup sometime in the calendar year 2027 - most likely at NHL training camp in the fall.

As for James Hagens.

The Bruins top prospect and 7th overall pick in 2025 is off to a strong start in his sophomore year at Boston College having 10 goals, 8 assists, and 18 points in 16 games played.

He may not be putting up jaw dropping numbers at the moment - even though being better than a point per game in the NCAA is hardly anything to sneeze at - but he's still a top tier prospect and arguably the American's top forward right now at the World Junior Tournament in Minnesota.

Hagens is a player that should be NHL ready as soon as the spring or fall of 2026.

Thanks for the question, Vinny.

While the numbers you've mentioned are fair to bring up in terms of Swayman's performance and consistency - it's not always that black and white in terms of goaltending.

Here's what I mean.

The point you're making is that outside of December, Swayman needs to be better based on his GAA, and SV% metrics.

And listen - I think that's true to an extent.

There have definitely been some games, periods, and specific goals against where he's needed to be better.

Among 26 goalies who have started at least 20 games so far this season - so basically most starters that have been healthy enough to play that minimum amount so far - Swayman ranks 14th in SV% (.901), and 19th in GAA (2.91).

So when looking at these main goalie metrics compared to other starters around the league - he's been average to slightly below average.

But here's where it gets layered.

Swayman isn't playing behind as strong of a defensive team as most goalies in the league - if any at all - and his underlying numbers indicate that he is actually covering up their play quite a bit.

Right now, Boston ranks 3rd in the NHL in both high danger scoring chances against (99), and medium scoring chances against (284).

Boston ranks tied with the New York Islanders for the most combined surrendered high danger, and medium danger scoring chances against with 383.

One of the reasons Boston gives up so many scoring chances against, is because they are the most undisciplined team in the NHL - by far.

The Bruins have accumulated the most penalty minutes in the league with 366 through 38 games, and have the most penalty minutes taken per 60 with 12.09.

So basically, Boston is spending way too much time defending and playing on their heels, and as a result, Swayman's numbers are taking a bit of a hit because of it.

But what would Swayman's numbers be if he were playing for a better defensive, and more disciplined team? Which is literally everyone compared to the Bruins.

What would other goalies numbers look like if they were on Boston? And would they be better than Swayman's?

Well, among the same aforementioned 26 goalies who have started in at least 20 games so far this season, Swayman ranks 10th in goals saved above expected (14.4), and 11th in goals saved above expected per 60 (.565).

So when you consider Boston's combined ranking in high danger, and medium danger scoring chances against, as well as their penalty minutes ranking - far more is being asked of Swayman than his other starting counterparts around the league and he's still saving more expected goals than most of them.

At the end of the day, Swayman's GAA, and SV% being middle of the pack in the NHL (on this Boston team) is probably better than most other goalies' would be if they were in his situation - playing in front of this Bruins team.

Likewise, if Swayman were playing in front of a better team - both his GAA, and SV% would probably be top-ten.

Swayman is far from being Patrick Roy, or Martin Brodeur - but he's not the main problem for the Bruins, and ridding of him isn't some magical solution.

Not many other goalies in the league - if any - would be thriving in Boston right now with how undisciplined the team has been and with how many quality chances against their team defense allows.