By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Yesterday, the Boston Bruins played their final February game, which resulted in a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The loss put the Bruins at 33-21-5 overall on the season. Now, March has arrived for the Bruins, and the National Hockey League Trade Deadline is five days away.
The Bruins will need to have a plan in place for this year’s deadline. Recently, Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz may have given the Bruins the right idea. Gretz wrote an article titled “Buy, Sell or Hold: What Every Team Should do at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.” For the Bruins, Gretz said the team should “hold, lean toward buy.” With how this season has gone for the Bruins, Gretz’s plan is the right one.
“The Bruins are one of those teams on the Eastern Conference playoff bubble, and they have some significant issues that could be addressed,” Gretz said. The biggest of those issues, from a big picture perspective, is that they are just too inconsistent to fully trust this season.”
Gretz isn’t wrong about the Bruins being inconsistent to be confident about a serious playoff push. All season long. The Bruins can get on hot and cold streaks. 2026 is the newest example. In January, the Bruins won 11 of their 14 games for the month. Due to the 2026 Winter Olympic break in February, the Bruins lost three of their four games for the month.
With losing three of their last four games, the Bruins need to get on another hot streak before it could potentially fall out of a playoff spot. The Bruins do hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 71 points. However, the standings get closer with every game played.
Gretz also mentioned the Bruins lack a number one center, could use additional depth for scoring, and need to upgrade the defense. Gretz said these personnel issues for the Bruins are “a lot.”
“As long as the playoffs are a realistic goal — and they are — the Bruins should not be looking to sell, but this is also a team that is probably not just one or two players away from a championship this season,” Gretz said. “The best outcome here might be holding with a slight edge toward strategically buying if the right player falls into their laps.”
Hypothetically, the Bruins can make the 2026 playoffs given the current roster and standings. The Bruins have a blend of young and veteran players on the roster, playing well together. However, the roster might not be enough to be considered as a serious playoff contender. Therefore, buying would make the team better, but it needs to be at the right cost.
The Bruins have been in rumors to make a trade for a defenseman, with Justin Faulk and Braden Schneider being two potential candidates. The Bruins have also been rumored for big named players. Recently, Robert Thomas, Colton Parayko, Mackenzie Weeger, and Owen Tippett were named. While the Bruins have been rumored to get a defenseman and a potential forward, the team also has candidates it could trade away. Viktor Arvidsson, Casey Mittelstadt, Andrew Peeke, Mason Lohrei, and Matthew Potrais are names to keep an eye on.
The Bruins can keep their roster without having to buy and give up assets. However, the clock is ticking closer to the trade deadline to have the right player for the Bruins to go after. General manager Don Sweeney will have to make up his mind on which player has the best value to make a trade.
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