If the Bruins decide to buy at the deadline, they have three areas they could look to improve.

The Boston Bruins are in the middle of the pack. They currently have a 25-20-6 record and have the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. However, they are far from being in a comfortable place, as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets are one point behind. In addition, both clubs have games in hand over the Bruins. 

Due to the Bruins' placement in the standings, president Cam Neely said the team is considering two paths for the trade deadline: buying or retooling. If the Bruins decide to go down the buying route, they have three needs they could try to fix. Let's discuss each of them now. 

Trade Need No. 1: Add First-Line Center

The Bruins thought they fixed their center issues when they signed Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract this past summer. Fast-forward to today, and he is their third-line center. Thus, the Bruins still need serious help down the middle, even if 1C Pavel Zacha is on a heater right now, posting eight points in his last six games. 

While this is the Bruins' most significant need, adding a first-line center during the season will be tricky. J.T. Miller of the Vancouver Canucks would be a great target, and they have been connected to him, but that would be a challenging deal for the B's to pull off.

Trade Need No. 2: Add Scoring Winger

The Bruins let Jake DeBrusk walk in free agency and did not add a winger to replace him. This decision has undoubtedly impacted the Bruins, as they have had scoring trouble this season. Thus, looking to add a scoring winger is another avenue the Bruins could consider going down. 

The Bruins have found a great trio with Zacha, David Pastrnak, and the red-hot Morgan Geekie on their first line. However, they have a clear hole on their second line at right wing, so this is an area they should look to improve.

Trade Need No. 3: Add Another Experienced Blueliner 

The Bruins have dealt with injury trouble on their blueline this season. Hampus Lindholm has been out since November, and Charlie McAvoy is also dealing with an injury. 

Players like Parker Wotherspoon, Jordan Oesterle, and Michael Callahan have stepped up with the Bruins' injury trouble, but it would not hurt for the Original Six to add another experienced blueliner to their depth. This is especially true if they are capable of playing both sides. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Bruins stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.