While the Bruins are still very much alive in this wide-open playoff race, it is hard to envision that they have a long Stanley Cup run in them.

They head to Buffalo with a couple of character wins under their belt over the Ottawa Senators, but they have not been as good a team on the road (9-13-3) as they have been at home (16-7-3, 10-1-1 in their last 12). That’s one of the many signs of a flawed team.

Selling off at least one or two pieces by the deadline is very much on the table. But how hog-wild would/should management go with that?

Let’s keep in mind that they are currently playing without their top two defensemen, Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy. Lindholm has been out since Nov. 12 while McAvoy has been out since Jan. 11. That’s not to excuse where the B’s are right now. The team was trending badly at the time of Lindholm’s injury, even though he was having a good season to that point.

But when you’re thinking of a makeover of any degree, you have to be clear-eyed on just where the team stands. If McAvoy and Lindholm were in the lineup, maybe they don’t kick away a two-goal lead in Ottawa and maybe they don’t get overwhelmed in the second period in New Jersey, two of the more difficult losses in the past couple of weeks.

One thing to think about when it comes to selling: In the massive Mikko Rantanen deal last Friday, Chicago only got a third-round pick for Taylor Hall, and that’s with the Blackhawks acting as the bank for Carolina, retaining 50% of Rantanen’s contract. Hall is 33 and well removed from his Hart Trophy season. Still, given that return, it’s hard to imagine any one trade the B‘s could feasibly make would accelerate a retool much.

But here are some thoughts on some potential chips:

Brad Marchand

This would be the B’s highest-impact move. We’ve been a hard “no” on the idea of moving the 36-year-old captain because of the leadership that he brings and the dearth of players ready to take over the “C.” McAvoy should get there but he’s not there yet. As good as Marchand’s been in that role – always answering for the team when it’s had poor performances – Marchand himself probably wasn’t ready until he was anointed last season. But getting the “C” meant a lot to him, he valued the role’s importance to the team and he’s stepped up, especially during this rocky season.

Yet, the closer we get to the March 7 deadline and the captain remains without a contract, it certainly gives the message that management is thinking long and hard about this. The website AFP Analytics last week projected his next contract to come in at three years at $7.5 million. He’s currently in the last season of an incredibly team-friendly eight-year deal with an AAV $6.125 million a season. Marchand’s susceptible to the odd cold streak as he’s aged, but he was still second on this team in scoring as it heads to Buffalo. And considering next year’s team could well be stocked with more young players, the leadership part of the equation should not be underestimated. The feeling here is that he’s more valuable to the Bruins than any team to which he’d go. It’s doubtful he’d garner a first-round pick.

Still, if the two sides cannot come to an agreement by the deadline, a move would have to be made. He’s got an eight-team no-trade clause (per puckpedia.com).

Charlie Coyle

The versatile center/wing could fetch a decent return, especially considering he has another year left on his deal that pays him $5.25 million. While he doesn’t wear a letter, Coyle is as accountable as they come. He hasn’t had a great season, but 20 goals is still in reach. Considering he’s still on the outer edge of his prime at 32, Coyle may be the B’s best asset on the market. He may be slightly overpaid, but he could be some team’’s difference between winning and losing a Stanley Cup. He also has an eight-team no trade clause.

Trent Frederic

The rugged center/wing appeared to be on the verge of breaking out last year with a career high in goals (18) and points (40) but he had a very slow start. He’s been warming a little lately but he’s got 7-7-14 totals in 49 games. AFP Analytics projects the UFA-to-be’s next deal to be four years at $3.97 million. The feeling here is, had he built on last season’s output, the affable, team-first forward would have been a high priority to re-sign. But considering the juncture that team finds itself in, management has to at least find out what he’s worth to another team. His age (27), his truculence and his low cap hit ($2.3 million) could make him more attractive than his middling numbers would indicate.

Justin Brazeau

He’s been a nice story. Signed off his AHL deal late last season, he’s shown a decent touch around the net and, though he’s not the punishing checker some might like to see from someone 6-6, 227 pounds, he does use his frame to get to the dirty areas. Right now, he’s currently miscast as a fourth-liner but he could be helpful as a middle-six forward. Brazeau is UFA-to-be and the AFP Analytics projects his next deal to be two years at $1.4 million. If someone wants to do something stupid, then sure, you send him on his way. But if that projection is close to reality, then he might be worth hanging on to, though team speed is a current weakness and Brazeau is not fleet.

Morgan Geekie

The RFA-to-be wing has been given a great chance to play with David Pastrnak and he hasn’t let it slip through his fingers. He’s playing so well right now the B’s really have to think about re-signing him. After a terribly slow start that saw him endure several scratches, it would be far too say Geekie has been their second-best forward over the last month and a half. How the league views him is another question, specifically, how does he perform and produce when he’s not playing with a superstar goalscorer? The AFP Analytics projection has his next deal at four years with a $3.2 million AAV. Geekie no doubt has benefited from playing with Pastrnak, but some of his one-timer goals have not been the easiest to execute. He could be worth that projection. But in his “two paths” session with the media, team president Cam Neely had wondered if the club had perhaps over-valued some of their players. That gives the impression that contract extensions won’t be given out without some hard, emotion-free calculations.

However this all plays out, the next month and half should be very interesting for the future of the Boston Bruins.

Both McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm skated in full contact jerseys but they will not travel to Buffalo. But McAvoy was still beaming. He and his wife Kiley welcomed a their first born, son Rhys Michael, to the world early Sunday morning.

“”We’re thrilled right now,” said McAvoy. “The timing, it’s never good to get hurt, but I got to be there for that and support her … All amazing things today.”

McAvoy also said he’ll be good to go for the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

Oliver Wahlstrom (illness) and Mark Kastelic (undisclosed) will not travel while Cole Koepke, coming back form a head injury, is an option for the Sabres game, according to coach Joe Sacco