After an active off-season, the Boston Bruins have reached a 22-19-5 record and find themselves in a tight competition for a wild-card playoff spot. The team has struggled to maintain consistency, a factor that could influence their trade deadline strategy, as shared by Bruins president Cam Neely.
“We’ll see where we’re at,” Neely stated. “Right now, we need to consider two paths—either buying to improve the roster or retooling for the future.”
Neely expressed confidence in the team’s playoff potential but acknowledged the delicate balance between securing postseason contention and planning for long-term success. “We still feel like we have a playoff team here, and we don’t want to jeopardize our chances of making the playoffs by making moves that might benefit us in the future but hurt us in the present,” he added.
This year marks a shift for the Bruins, who are not a guaranteed playoff team for the first time in years. Complicating matters, they have played more games than some wild-card contenders trailing them in the standings.
If the Bruins decide to sell at the deadline, several players with expiring contracts, including Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, and Parker Wotherspoon, could become trade assets. These decisions will depend on the team’s position as the deadline approaches.
The Bruins’ course of action remains uncertain, but all eyes will be on the club to see whether they aim to bolster their playoff chances or prepare for the future.