Boston Bruins: Is Peter Chiarelli tipping his hand?

Dec 27, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing

(25) and Boston Bruins defenseman

(54) go for a loose puck during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of you probably watched the first episode of the second season of the all-access show about the Boston Bruins ‘Behind the B’. There we got to see a few tantalizing pieces on what certain members of the Bruins were doing during their off season (In addition to goaltender Tuukka Rask and future patron saint of Causeway Street Patrice Bergeron collecting their trophies at the NHL awards.). The Bruins focused on the actions of two defensemen in the bottom half of the episode, Kevan Miller and Dennis Seidenberg.

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For some of us, it was a re-hash. The producers just added on to the ‘Bear Tracks’ footage they showed on the Bruins website. While it was nice to see Miller and Seidenberg again, it gave us an insight to the Bruins mindset. Sure, Seidenberg has a no-trade clause, and he’s not going anywhere. It’s also safe to say that Kevan Miller‘s dedication earned him his contract (A very cap friendly contract to boot.), and he will be staying with the B’s.

The Bruins organization may have tipped their hand on who may be staying and who might be leaving though. The Bruins briefly addressed their cap struggles early in the show. They stressed that Reilly Smith and Torey Krug has still not been signed partly because of the cap. (No, I don’t think they’re going anywhere.) During the captain’s practice segment, a particular fan favorite got some screen time.

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“I can only do what I can do. I’m going to push. I’m here to compete, and I want to. I want to play really well, and show that, you know, I’m capable of helping this team and being an asset to this team. So that’s really all my mindset is, and I’m going to give it my best effort. That’s really all I can do.” – Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid

That fan favorite was Bruins blueliner Adam McQuaid. It was good to see a healthy Quaider skating in the Bruins practice jersey again. He had been hampered by a series of injuries that kept him to only thirty games last year. McQuaid had put on thirteen pounds of muscle during his time off and looked more physically imposing. While that’s certainly good news for him and the Bruins, it did make me wonder a little.

Are the Bruins shopping around Adam McQuaid? We all know that the Edmonton Oilers and the Bruins were trying to come to some sort of arraingment over Johnny Boychuk earlier in the summer. Thankfully, that trade didn’t happen. We know that Peter Chiarelli HAS to get rid of at least one blueliner before October. It would make sense for the organization to trade him.

A healthy McQuaid would certainly generate buzz for teams that are lacking defensive depth. McQuaid’s salary would certainly be used to offer both Krug and Smith one year deals (or more) that would be in the low two million range per year. That bridge contract would certainly help the organization as they struggle to stay below the cap in the next few seasons.

I think Adam McQuaid is a great player that fits the Boston system. Next to Shawn Thornton, he was a Bruin that was willing to ring the bell and drop the gloves with anyone (even a fellow Bruin). The Bruins proved they were willing to step away from having an enforcer when they didn’t resign Thornton, and it makes sense that they would trade the most enforcer-like of their defensemen.