Adam McQuaid Will Miss 6-8 Weeks

Dec 23, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman

(54) skates off the ice after a fight with Nashville Predators left wing

(not pictured) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

“I think he came out and tried to make a statement there that he’s ready to play, and he wants to be here,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said after his team’s 2-0 win over the Capitals.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. At least that is the way it appears to be for Adam McQuaid. As we mentioned earlier, the Bruins defenseman left Tuesday night’s game just five minutes into the second period after taking a shot from Kevin Shattenkirk and never returned. Upon seeing the trainers and team doctor for an examination, it has been ruled that Adam McQuaid will miss 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb.

Adam McQuaid came into this season looking for a fresh start after playing in just 30 games last season before being sidelined with a concussion (after a 15-game stint) and then a quadriceps injury(after another 15-game stint). Preceding the lockout of the 2013-2014 season, he had undergone surgery for a blood clot that was resulted from thoradic outlet syndrome. Combined McQuaid has played in 82 games over the course of the past three seasons, registering 3 goals and 12 points. This season, he was able to reach the 20 game mark, a milestone if you will for the battered blueliner.

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While McQuaid isn’t known so much for his scoring abilities, he’s a physical blueliner that isn’t afraid to drop the gloves or block a shot.  His absence will be felt among the B’s penalty killing unit and especially in the hits department.

This season McQuaid was ready to put all of his injuries behind him and focus on being 100% healthy. Following the Bruins pre-season game against the Capitals, coach Claude Julien noted the defenseman’s work ethic stating;

“I think he came out and tried to make a statement there that he’s ready to play, and he wants to be here,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said after his team’s 2-0 win over the Capitals. “I thought he played a real strong game. I gave him high marks for his first game back and how well he played for his first game back.”

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McQuaid was logging some hefty minutes and finally able to prove his worth to the team before the injury plague hit him, posting an average of 19:55 of time on the ice each night, a career-high. He was making a good run for his money, given that he is in the last year of his contract and was showing how valuable he can be to the Bruins.

With McQuaid watching from the balcony once again, the Bruins will likely turn to Kevan Milller to fill his shoes and call up Zach Trotman from Providence. Miller is a physical player like McQuaid who is able to handle a heavy workload…when he’s 100% healthy. Coming back from an injury himself (dislocated shoulder), he is likely going to be pushed up to speed quickly and Bartkowski will continue to be able to improve on his early season mishaps.

Durability has always been the biggest downfall of McQuaid’s and being the last season on his contract, the injury doesn’t exactly play to his favor. For a defenseman that was playing his best season yet, soaking up some big time minutes and making his mark on an otherwise battered and bruised team, the injury hurts.