THE BIG QUESTION: Who is locked into the Bruins trade tiers? Who might be in motion?

Boston Bruins require assistance. They gave up a 5-1 no-show to the New York Islanders on Saturday after allowing frequent odd-man rushes.

The absence of Hampus Lindholm is felt. Due to a lower-body ailment, the all-situations defenseman will miss Monday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs for the seventh consecutive. Usually playing on the first pair, Matt Grzelcyk was sidelined against the Islanders due to an unexplained injury. Coach Jim Montgomery anticipated having Grzelcyk available for the game against Toronto.

The deficiencies on the left side were exacerbated when facing the Islanders. The Bruins’ high forwards misfired, which gave the Islanders a difficult time covering the defensemen. All of it added up to many quick entries for the Islanders and excellent opportunities for Linus Ullmark.

According to Montgomery, “it starts with not having a good F3 in the offensive zone.” “After that, the defenseman reads.”

In the 13 games since the All-Star break, the Bruins have only managed four victories. It’s unclear if general manager Don Sweeney can close a transaction before the trade deadline of March 8 to start a turnaround.

When it comes to the typical deadline hoard of selections and prospects, President Cam Neely admitted the organization’s lack of resources. In addition, the Bruins’ $4,833,333 in idle cap space as a result of Mike Reilly’s buyout and the bonus overages of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

Sweeney now has fewer cards to play than usual as a result of everything. You can see why the Bruins are shorthanded going into Friday’s NHL trade deadline given the limited trade alternatives among the 23 roster players listed below.

These are their existing assets, arranged in layers.

Paying close attention

Brazeau Justin
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right wing has only played in five NHL games, but in those games, he’s made a strong impression with his hands, hockey sense, and ability to arrive on pucks to prolong attacking cycles. Teams are constantly seeking out size. The 26-year-old might be more to another general manager than a fourth-liner.

Jakub Lauko
The quick and strong wing has had trouble staying consistent. Considering his role and his recent streak of healthy scratches, he admitted to feeling anxious about the trade deadline. Whether or not a potential buyer believes the 23-year-old has third-line potential will determine his trade value. He is in competition with Anthony Richard, a left-shot winger who is even faster, on the inside.

Marc McLaughlin

After spending the season in the AHL (six goals and eleven points in 53 games), McLaughlin scored in his first NHL game of the season on Saturday against the New York Islanders. The player is now searching for varsity traction. His ability to play right wing and his fearlessness when facing opponents make him a useful asset in the postseason. He is a right-shot center.

Linus Ullmark
The Bruins’ net defense would be weakened if they traded the Vezina Trophy winner from the previous season. However, Sweeney’s options are limited to relocating Ullmark’s $5 million average yearly value in order to position the team for future acquisitions of offensive or defensive support. However, goalies’ trade value has historically been lower than skaters’. Ready to start in Game 1 and maybe lead the team in the postseason is Jeremy Swayman. An offseason move would be expected if the anxiety is negatively impacting the team’s goalie situation in the playoffs.

Unexpected to be moved, but pending UFAs

DeBrusk Jake
The player and the team don’t seem to be getting close to coming to an agreement over his worth. Finding a top-six forward or top-four defenseman with a comparable contract situation would be the only viable trade option. Otherwise, the existing roster is not improved by dealing DeBrusk out of fear of letting him walk for nothing. He might become the next Torey Krug, who signed with the St. Louis Blues after playing for 2019–20.

Derek Forbort
A groin ailment has hampered the defensive defenseman, but a mid-round pick is usually the return for a player with his profile. In the playoffs, he’s essential for depth and penalty killing.

Matt Grzelcyk
Throughout the season, the hometown product has not discussed a new contract. His output has not been aided by injuries. He’s a valuable five-on-five player for Charlie McAvoy when he’s on point, but it’s possible that the 30-year-old’s time in Boston is drawing to an end.

Heinen Danton
The versatile wing is capable of playing several spots on any line. It’s unbelievable that 31 organizations didn’t think he was deserving of a deal. He will play a significant role in the event of injuries.

Shattenkirk, Kevin
The seasoned offensive defenseman isn’t deserving of a spot in the starting lineup. However, letting go of the 35-year-old would weaken a position that need support. The only other right-shot defenseman on the team with NHL playing time this season, behind Shattenkirk on the depth chart, is Ian Mitchell, who is presently in Providence.

Van Riemsdyk James
Even if he’s having trouble in five-on-five situations, he’s still a potent scorer on power plays and disher in tight spaces. In the postseason, his experience will be valuable.

Hearing, but not truly hearing

Boqvist Jesper
With his most recent 25-game recall, Boqvist has advanced, using his quickness and talent far more efficiently. He works for minimum wage and is only 25 years old.

Trent Frederick
Though Sweeney would command a high price due to Frederic’s versatility as a 26-year-old who can play three forward positions, shoot the puck well, and battle when called upon, another general manager might see Frederic as a top-six forward on a full-time basis. With an annual valuation of $2.3 million, he still has room to develop.

Morgan Geekie
Geekie, who recently scored his first NHL hat trick, signed an offseason contract with the Seattle Kraken after the team declined to extend a qualifying offer to him. The Bruins would have to pay a premium for him because he can play both center and right wing.

Mason Lohrei
If Forbort and Grzelcyk do not sign new contracts, the long and talented left-shot defenseman will be needed in the future due to his great offensive potential. Although he still has a lot of defensive work ahead of him, his coachability will be very helpful.

Matt Poitras
After shoulder surgery, the talented right-shot center should be ready to play in 2024–25. He was wearing a brace while playing, which helps to explain some of his difficulties with offense before the surgery. He has the potential to be a No. 2 center in the long run.

Parker Wotherspoon
One of the 2023–24 revelations has been the stay-at-home left-shot defensemen. He appears to be a viable option to replace Forbort in the third-pairing and penalty-killing roles. After this season, he becomes a restricted free agent.

not moving

Brandon Carlo
Carlo is a first-wave penalty taker and trustworthy five-on-five defender who is well-liked by both his teammates and coaches. He belongs to the second echelon of team leadership.

Charlie Coyle
The once-number-three center is now a dependable, if unconventional, No. 1 pivot. Although he doesn’t have a lot of offensive potential, he performs admirably and gets along well with Brad Marchand.

Lindholm Hampus
Although Lindholm is now sidelined and didn’t have as significant of a season as 2022–2023, he is still a versatile left-shot defenseman and will be relied upon to face the most difficult opponents throughout the playoffs with Carlo.

Brad Marchand
The captain, hardest worker, and emotional destabilizer of the team. He has his sights set on 1,000 points after playing in his 1,000th game, and he will stop at nothing to get a spot on Canada’s 2026 Olympic team.

Charlie McAvoy

At his finest, McAvoy alters the course of the game. As a power-play quarterback, he keeps getting better and never seems to fatigue.

Pastrnak David
Pastrnak is a fantastic finisher who can start plays for others and generate his own offense without the help of a typical setup center. He is the heir apparent to the captaincy.

Jeremy Swayman
The starting pitcher in the first game should be the team’s ace of the future, if not currently the present. He’s positioning himself for a raise again when his $3.475 million arbitration award expires in a year.

Pavel Zacha
Zacha can play a variety of forward positions, although his best position is center. If the Bruins sign an impact center in the offseason or at the trade deadline, he might move to the wing. His average yearly value of $4.75 million is highly deserved.