May 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid (54) clears the puck away from goalie Tuukka Rask (40) during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Masterson Trophy is given out to the NHL player who represents the best qualities of dedication, endurance, and a commitment to play.  The award is usually given out to a player that has returned to the ice after battling serious illness or injury.  The finalists were announced yesterday. They were Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby , Minnesota’s Josh Harding, and the Boston Bruins’ Adam McQuaid. While the Selke might not go to a Bruin this year, if any player has persevered and came back swinging it’s the Bruins defenseman.

McQuaid has had a rough last twelve months playing in the NHL. He was unable to play in last year’s post season due to an injury caused by a hit from the Washington Capitals‘ Jason Chimera. (Makes me wonder if #54 is going to look up an old number for that hit in tonight’s game.) After the Bruins early withdrawal from the post season(at the hands of the Capitals), McQuaid went back to his normal work out routine. Unfortunately, he was sidelined with a far more serious problem just after the lockout was starting.

McQuaid suffered a minor injury while practicing with Bruins players in early October. That injury caused blood clots to form in his arm, causing it to swell. By the time the official diagnosis was made(Thoracic Outlet Syndrome- TOS occurs when compression at the superior thoracic outlet wherein excess pressure placed on a neurovascular bundle passing between the anterior scalene and middle scalene muscles. [Essentially, a life threatening pain in the neck.]) #54 required near immediate surgery. One operation removed the life threatening clot.  The second required the removal of a rib and muscles in his neck in order to stop this from happening in the future.

“To be honest I think I’ve matured mentally because of all this.” said McQuaid when interviewed about his nomination. ” I’m trying to take a positive approach to everything. Unfortunately injuries are a part of the game, but I don’t want to change the way I approach the game. Maybe I put myself in situations where I can get dinged up, but I can’t change the way I play. It’s definitely something I’m going to reflect on at the end of the year.”

Apr 25, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie (76) and Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid (54) battle for control of the puck during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Masterton Trophy is given out to the NHL player who represents the best qualities of dedication, endurance, and a commitment to play.  The award is usually given out to a player that has returned to the ice after battling serious illness or injury. This year’s nominee has battled through several injuries and has proven that he’s willing to come back and do what he can for his team. This year’s nominee for the Boston Bruins is defenseman Adam McQuaid.

McQuaid has had a rough last twelve months playing in the NHL. He was unable to play in last year’s post season due to an injury caused by a hit from the Washington Capitals’ Jason Chimera. (Makes me wonder if #54 is going to look up an old number for that hit in tonight’s game.) After the Bruins early withdrawal from the post season(at the hands of the Capitals), McQuaid went back to his normal work out routine. Unfortunately, he was sidelined with a far more serious problem just after the lockout was starting.

McQuaid suffered a minor injury while practicing with Bruins players in early October. That injury caused blood clots to form in his arm, causing it to swell. By the time the official diagnosis was made(Thoracic Outlet Syndrome- TOS occurs when compression at the superior thoracic outlet wherein excess pressure placed on a neurovascular bundle passing between the anterior scalene and middle scalene muscles. [Essentially, a life threatening pain in the neck.]) #54 required near immediate surgery. One operation removed the life threatening clot.  The second required the removal of a rib and muscles in his neck in order to stop this from happening in the future.

As a survivor of two strokes, I know how medical treatment can up-end your life. The blood thinners and the inactivity can really bring an active live to a standstill. I personally felt for McQuaid, because he was going through something I had went through when I was twenty-seven. After the operations, the blood thinners should have sidelined McQuaid for up to six months. Good grace was with him though. His recovery had exceeded expectations and he was back on the ice by December. (If that’s not a Christmas miracle….)

McQuaid was ready to go in time for the intra-squad Bruins scrimmage. McQuaid even stepped up to fight AHL Bruins’ brawler Bobby Robbins. While Robbins did get the better of McQuaid in that bout, that Adam could actually get on the ice at all was amazing.  In this season, he also sustained a shoulder and a lower body injury. (That last injury was courtesy of Pittsburgh’s nominee for the Masterson, Matt Cooke. You might remember Jack Edwards going on a colorful over the top rant on that subject.)His dedication and extreme work ethic have driven him to work hard and get back on the ice faster than expected each time. With the possibility of Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, no player this season has taken such severe life altering injuries, and gotten back on the ice so quickly this season.

“To be honest I think I’ve matured mentally because of all this.” said McQuaid when interviewed about his nomination. ” I’m trying to take a positive approach to everything. Unfortunately injuries are a part of the game, but I don’t want to change the way I approach the game. Maybe I put myself in situations where I can get dinged up, but I can’t change the way I play. It’s definitely something I’m going to reflect on at the end of the year.”

If anyone has earned the right to be described as dedicated to his sport and his team, Adam McQuaid has. I’m thrilled the Boston sportswriters really got it right this year.

The last Bruins player to win the Masterton Trophy was Phil Kessel in 2007. Kessel was battling testicular cancer that season.

March 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) skates through the neutral zone with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins have had a few injuries this season that have given the team pause. At present, we’ve got three players down.  Forwards Chris Kelly and Patrice Bergeron and defenseman Adam McQuaid have been hurt, and initially weren’t expected to return before the end of the season. It looks like Bruins Nation has caught a lucky break here. Various reports show that we could see all of the Bruins back on the ice in time for the playoff race.

Chris Kelly’s status has been changed  “day-to-day”.  Kelly joined the rest of the Bruins on the plane for Montreal this afternoon.  At the moment, Kelly hasn’t been ruled out of the lineup against the Canadiens. He will be needed on the third line as a stabilizing force(the Bruins’ third line has been somewhat of a merry-go-round), and it would be a definite boost to team morale as the Black and Gold try once again to remove the Canadiens from atop the Northeast Division.

Patrice Bergeron is feeling better, and is not reporting any post-concussion symptoms. He hasn’t taken to the ice yet, but there have been no setbacks as of yet. The Bruins alternate captain went down with a moderate concussion after getting accidently struck in the head by Ottawa’s Colin Greening on April 2nd. Bruins general manager  Peter Chiarelli discussed his conversation with Bergeron in yesterday’s press conference. “I talked to him about an hour ago and he was in very good spirits. He was out walking.” offered Chiarelli. “He was annoyed at it, and he was emotional (Tuesday) night. I asked him if I could update the media and he said, ‘Sure.’ . . . He sounded really good and I told him that we’ll work together in getting him back.”

The timetable isn’t totally clear on Bergeron, but if he remains symptom free, we could see Bergeron back on the ice in time for the playoffs.

Adam McQuaid is still skating on his own as he works his way back from a shoulder strain suffered on March 11th against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Odds are though that the pugilistic defenseman may return to full practice in the next few days.  McQuaid was expected to miss up to six weeks when the injury first occurred according to the initial estimate by coach Claude Julien. In another lucky break for the organization, it seems his recovery is ahead of schedule. McQuaid has skated on his own for the last four days. From what has been discussed with the media, he has been using his shoulder in drills with the Bruins training staff.

The Bruins have twelve games left in the regular season. They have all but locked up a playoff slot, and the return of these players would only benefit the organization as they head into the post-season.