Peter Chiarelli -- Deal or No Deal?

First off, let me apologize for neglecting this blog. There have been quite a few new developments in my life during the past year. From graduating college to being unemployed to becoming employed to becoming employed in a job I actually like.

Pulling my life together took quite a bit of work. I stopped writing about the one thing I loved the most. Hey, you have to take life as it comes at you. What can I say?

But from this point forward, I'll try my best to pump out a few new entries each week. I won't let this be just another empty web page on the Internet. And what better time to play catch up than over the Olympic Break?

So enough is enough. Let's talk Boston. Let's talk Bruins.

The B's find themselves in an interesting predicament as of Feb 8. They're ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference -- three points out of sixth place but two points out of thirteenth. Furthermore, Boston is tied with three other teams with 59 points. They could sneak into the playoffs. And they could also barely miss it.

What fueled such a fall from grace? Lack of scoring, for one. Lack of a puck-moving defenseman as well. And a ten-game losing streak well into the New Year certainly didn't help out their situation, either.

With the trade deadline less than a month away, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli needs to make a decision. A decision that very well may define his career in Boston more-so than any other to this point.

Does he sell the farm come deadline/summer, try to unload some bad contracts, and pick up some picks in a draft that looks to be one of the deepest in recent years?

Or does he take the "win now" approach, trade away some assets, and acquire a rental or two for a playoff push?

Over the coming days, I'll analyze both situations and speculate as to what moves Boston Pete could make. Not to mention glaze over a few rumours floating around the hockey sphere. And by the end of it all, you can decide what path suits the B's best.

Thanks for your renewed readership, and here's to a revived Backcheck with the Bruins Buff!