Hampus Lindholm (James Guillory-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/95554e25-40de-43db-9098-c5a5eab6f773.jpeg] Hampus Lindholm (James Guillory-Imagn Images) The Boston Bruins have had a pretty unfortunate season, but their situation isn't improving. Not only are the Bruins still outside of a playoff spot at this point in the season, but they’re now dealing with two key defensemen being out of the lineup. The most recent news about Boston’s health situation came Sunday, when Bruins GM Don Sweeney said [https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-hampus-lindholm-injury-status-update] veteran blueliner Hampus Lindholm will likely miss the rest of the season with a knee injury after last playing on Nov. 12. Lindholm remains on long-term injured reserve. Without Hampus Lindholm, should the Boston Bruins be sellers? Combined with the injury to star D-man Charlie McAvoy [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bruins-happy-with-care-mcavoy-received-from-bruins-medical-staff] – who is out with a shoulder injury suffered in the 4 Nations Face-Off with no timetable for return – the Bruins are without two integral components of their blueprint for success. These injuries make it clear that Boston must avoid the temptation to add pieces at or before the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline and instead be a seller. Sweeney has about $5.71 million in salary cap space with Lindholm on LTIR, according to PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/boston-bruins]. If the defenseman doesn't play for the rest of the regular season, the Bruins could use that space to add someone at the trade deadline. But the available talent likely won't solve the Bruins' issues this season. There’s no minute-munching, top-two replacement defenseman who is up for grabs and fits into the Bruins’ financial structure. Chicago’s Seth Jones has a $9.5-million cap hit for five more years [https://puckpedia.com/player/seth-jones] after this one. He's no rental, and it’s all but impossible for Boston to acquire him. Other than him, the Bruins will likely have a tough time outbidding other buyers for players on the trade block who could make a substantial difference for a team trying to make the playoffs, let alone win a playoff round or more. Despite being one point out of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, the Bruins are 24th in the NHL with 2.74 goals-for per game, so offense is a challenge this season. They also allow the ninth-most goals against per game at 3.17, so defense is a challenge this season. Their power-play success rate ranks 30th, and their penalty-kill rate ranks 24th, so special teams are challenges this season. While they have three first-round draft picks in the next three years, the Bruins’ prospect pool is one of the worst in the league. So, as a potential buyer at the deadline, the Bruins are likely stuck with what they’ve got. The road looks clearer to be sellers for the rest of this season than to buy or stand pat, based on the pros and cons of each path we explained on Feb. 14 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-boston-bruins-pros-and-cons-for-being-buyers-sellers-or-neither]. Moving pending UFAs, center Trent Frederic and right winger Justin Brazeau, is the least of what Sweeney should do. But Sweeney needs to listen to offers for other players on his roster in case there's a surprising move that could help them bounce back next season. We’re not suggesting he cut ties with captain Brad Marchand [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/marchands-strong-limited-performance-at-4-nations-face-off-strengthening-case-for-extension-with-bruins], but there should be few untouchables in Boston’s lineup. With every game, the Bruins look more like a team that needs to kick the can down the road and focus on being a playoff threat one or two years from now. It worked pretty well for them when missing the post-season in 2014-15 and 2015-16, after all. Likely losing Lindholm for the season – and McAvoy for any lengthy period of time – makes this season is looking tougher to salvage. It’s time for this proud organization to deal with reality and adjust their expectations for this year accordingly. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
