Now less than 24 hours away from Monday’s 3:00 P.M. NHL trade deadline, not much has changed for the Bruins who have some big decisions to make. From what to do with Loui Eriksson and Zdeno Chara to what they’re willing to give up to help their struggling blue line, a lot of calls are coming from and into the phones of Bruins’ General Manager Don Sweeney.

“Well, I think the overall depth of the hockey club is something we want to continue to identify and improve. Most of the talks we have had have been centered around draft picks. A lot of prospects have not changed hands here and there,” Sweeney said while meeting the media prior to Sunday’s contest with the Lightning. “I think this is a time where teams start zeroing in on not giving up much on their own club, and they feel they’re in position and other teams are feeling like they may take a step back and restock come June.”

The biggest name Sweeney has publicly discussed is Eriksson, who is due for a raise as an unrestricted free agent this summer. But as the Bruins continue to sit in the middle of the playoff picture and with other teams looking for that perfect rental player, Sweeney continues to field offers on Eriksson while also trying to negotiate a long-term deal for the 30-year-old who is having his best season in Boston since being acquired in the Tyler Seguin trade on July 4, 2013.

Sweeney knows that losing Eriksson at the deadline regardless of the return would be a big impact to the Black and Gold.

“Well I think it would be a significant impact,” Sweeney said. “You realize what Loui’s impact on our hockey club is night after night and it’s significant. So we’d have to look to make sure that whether internally we have guys who can help, but more than likely you have to bring in a player, whether it’s one move or subsequent moves that would be able to fill that gap. To me, it would be a big loss to our club for sure.”

With the Bruins current playoff position, a salary cap that may go down next season and more than a few key players in need of new deals within the next two summers, Sweeney certainly has his hands full. The salary cap may be the biggest issue facing Sweeney when it comes down to signing Eriksson.

“It’s a big factor,” Sweeney said of the impending salary cap decrease. “There’s no question that there are players coming along that we have to be cognitive of as to when their deals are coming up that we would like to keep as part of this group. You have to manage that; there is no question that that is a factor.”

As the Bruins continue to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race, other teams in the East –notably the Penguins, Panthers and Rangers — have made moves to better themselves. Sweeney has certainly noticed what the competition in the East has done.

“Well, it certainly catches your attention. Again, if we have the assets to acquire certain players that will give us a boost, that’s what we would like to do,” Sweeney added. “But I don’t think you can be held hostage with that regard as well. If things line up, you make a deal. If they don’t, you got to grab a hold of your bootstraps and tighten ’em up.”

With Sweeney confirming Eriksson will play tonight, it appears that a deal to send the coveted winger out of town is not imminent, but a lot can change between now and tomorrow’s mid-afternoon deadline.

By placing Max Talbot on waivers yesterday and Zac Rinaldo on waivers this morning — although Rinaldo is playing tonight — Sweeney has created some flexibility for the club as they look to improve not only their playoff odds this season, but help the club moving forward.

“There are certain times of the year where you have the opportunity before deadlines to create flexibility. I think both of those represent that,” said Sweeney. “Again, I have had talks with both players. Zac is playing tonight. There’s plenty of players who have gone on waivers and nothing has happened and in both counts that may be the case.”

With the flexibility to bring in players and the desire to not lose Eriksson this summer for nothing, Sweeney certainly has no problems keeping an unsigned Eriksson past tomorrow’s deadline.

“Absolutely. Loui is a very valuable player. Other teams are probably seeing it accordingly as such,” Sweeney said about keeping Eriksson for the rest of the 2015-16 season. “But to me, it’s a question that was asked earlier, he’s an impactful player on our hockey club. I would have continuing conversations with him.”

All the questions surrounding the immediate future of the Bruins will be answered at 3:00 P.M. Monday afternoon.