Anxiety increases among the Bruins fans ahead of the trade deadline

During the game, from the moment David Pastrnak scored within the first 44 seconds until he sealed a hat trick with only 22 seconds left, securing a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, the answer becomes apparent — they need nothing more.

The Bruins haven't been flawless in their first 44 games since the departure of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Yet, they've arguably been the top team in the NHL, boasting a 71.6 points percentage, highlighted by their ongoing seven-game point streak that's pushing them ever closer to their own lofty standards.

So, how close is this team to reaching those standards?

After a trio of consecutive wins against St. Louis, New Jersey, and Colorado, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has a clear viewpoint on their performance.

Swayman continues to be a powerful presence, and Ullmark is expected to regain his dominant form following a nine-day break due to a lower-body injury. The team's fifth-ranked power play and fourth-ranked penalty kill persist in overpowering and stifling the competition in each game, while all other elements of their gameplay seem to be aligning effectively.

Charlie Coyle, providing two assists to Pastrnak's trio of goals for his 18th and 19th assists of the season on Thursday, has seamlessly adapted to playing center on the top line. Meanwhile, Pavel Zacha, recently alternating between wing and center, earned his 26th point of the season while playing at center against Colorado.

On Thursday, Morgan Geekie took the center position, shifting Trent Frederik to a different role for the majority of the shifts, notably during the one where he assisted Jakub Lauko's first goal of the season. Jesper Boquist also performed effectively, winning half of his faceoffs and contributing to the Bruins' fourth line achieving an equal split of shot attempts in five-on-five play.

Do the Bruins really need reinforcements? Possibly, but the question is at what expense?

The likelihood of them hastily trading away players or prospects to gather enough draft picks for a high-caliber player seems unlikely. Given their draft situation, with no picks until the fourth round in 2024, none in the first two rounds of 2025, and no compelling reason to trade away 2026 picks, they will need to focus on rebuilding their resources, depleted from forming competitive teams in recent years. This is a crucial step if they aim to be significant contenders in the market. Consequently, the financially constrained Bruins might opt for minimal action, possibly just looking for cost-effective depth options from the lower tiers of the trade market.

It wouldn't be a disaster if they remained inactive until Mar. 8, particularly considering their recent improvement in performance. It doesn't seem like they urgently need to make any moves. The fans are very anxious as the trade deadline approaches, knowing that the Bruins have very limited room to acquire quality players. But given their position in the standings, do the Bruins really need them?