The Bruins are now officially on their mid-winter break, at least every Bruin but the eight (plus Providence Bruin Dans Locmelis) who will be representing their respective countries in the Olympic Games in Italy.

The first 57 games have been as interesting as you could expect from a team that dealt away its captain and a quarter of its team last March. Before we hibernate, here are a few thoughts on the sometimes likable, sometimes maddening team:

*The calendar says we’re a month away from the March 6 trade deadline but, in hockey terms, we’re a lot closer than that. After the Olympic break, the B’s have just four games left before the deadline. GM Don Sweeney isn’t going to know much more about his team then than he does now, provided all the Olympians come back healthy.

What Sweeney will do remains to be seen, but here’s one rule he should abide by. He should not be throwing any valuable assets into the rental market. If he wants to use, say, any of the three fourth-round picks on some sort of veteran on an expiring contract, fine. But this team is not in position to sink the kind of assets like the ones they used to get Rick Nash (a first-round pick, Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey and a seventh-rounder) or Tyler Bertuzzi (a first and fourth). The B’s are just not a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

They are, however, a strong playoff contender. And contrary to what many armchair general managers may think, making the playoffs matters more right now than snagging an extra second or third-round pick.

They should not just deal away UFAs-to-be Viktor Arvidsson or Andrew Peeke for what could be negligible returns just because they’re on expiring contracts. Sometimes you just have to let players play out their deal. This is just such a situation. Both those players are contributing to this team (OK, Peeke looks like he could use the break right now) and they should be allowed to continue doing so.

These Bruins are not unlike the 2007-08 team, Claude Julien’s first Boston team. They were nobody’s contenders, either. They gave up 10 goals in a game to the Washington Capitals in March of that season. But they sneaked into the playoffs on the second to last game of the season and then gave the heavily-favored Canadiens such a scare that the Montreal fans threw a riot of relief on St. Catherine’s Street when the Habs finally prevailed in Game 7. The next season, the B’s swept the Habs and eventually won a Cup in 2011. Winners are built a season at a time.

There are years when you have to reload and reset. The B’s did that last season and they’ve got four first-round picks over the next two drafts, and more, to show for it. But those kinds of seasons should be rare. This year, the playoffs are in reach. Winning, not stocking up for the future, should be the priority again.

*The B’s sent Matt Poitras back down to Providence after the game in Sunrise. It makes sense. There’s no reason he should be sitting for three weeks when he could be playing games. Poitras served himself well in his call-up. In just three games against some hard competition, the 21-year-old Poitras re-established himself as a legitimate prospect.

The question is whether the B’s see a long-term fit here with Poitras or if he is dangled at the deadline in order to get more veteran help. There is a major need at right defense, especially with their penalty-kill now having sunk to 28th in the league.

Meanwhile, the B’s will have some incoming offensive talent at forward coming in over the next couple of year, including James Hagens (though it is still unclear whether he’s best suited at wing or center), Dean Letourneau and Will Zellers. Locmelis has a real chance to be an NHL player. The B’s also have to decide over the summer whether they plan to re-commit to Pavel Zacha, who has one more year left on his contract and has been a very good pick-up for this team. I’d be in the camp of re-signing him. And Fraser Minten’s not going anywhere.

What they don’t have in abundance are right-shot Ds on the horizon. If they can get a legitimate top-four blueliner for the right side, one with considerable term left, the B’s will have to consider giving up an asset like Poitras. With all the assets that they have in the system or on the way, he might be their best, most expendable trade bait.

*I’ll admit that I thought that the B’s might have wasted a contract when they re-signed Marat Khusnutdinov to a two-year extension. When he arrived here from Minnesota at the deadline, the young Russian flashed some occasional skill but he was a bit of a nondescript player.

But he’s been a very valuable player for the B’s this season, not just because of his skill but for his doggedness and strength on the puck and his overall competitiveness. While it didn’t pay off in the end, his break-up of a quick developing 2-on-1 in overtime during the B’s shootout loss in Florida was tremendous.

Still not sure if he’s suited for a top-six role or as a third liner, or at center or wing. But Khusnutdinov is a keeper.

*Since Mason Lohrei’s name was thrown around in trade rumors for Rasmus Andersson, it seems like he’s been a lot less of a liability in his own zone. He’s been playing the right side – even though right-shot D-man Henri Jokiharju has been available – and he’s been shutting down plays quicker and more effectively. While it remains to be seen if he’s still a trade chip or not for a right D, the 25-year-old Lohrei has shown some growth in the last couple of weeks.

*You may think you already know all you need to know about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, but don’t let that stop you from watching the new Netflix documentary “Miracle: The Boys of ‘80.” It delves into various human angles that will hit you in the feels. Engrossing from start to finish. As the B’s take their leave for Italy and parts unknown, it’s well worth a watch.