Oct 5, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman
Adam McQuaid(54) attempts to block a shot by Detroit Red Wings defenseman
Brendan Smith(2) during the second period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Adam McQuaid has earned his reputation in Boston. The twenty-seven year old defenseman from Prince Edward Island is affectionately known to the faithful as ‘Darth Quaider’ for his willingness to throw down the mitts. He once dropped the gloves against a member of the Providence Bruins (Bobby Robins) during their last NHL-AHL scrimmage. He’s been a solid lower pair blue liner, and he helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup back in 2011.
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The Boston Bruins have been known (especially in the Chiarelli era) to keep players they personally believe in(especially if they were on the Cup team). While a lot of the Black and Gold faithful believed in Tyler Seguin, his reckless personal life led to a loss of confidence from the home office. That loss of confidence led to his trade in July 2013. Adam McQuaid appears to still have the full confidence of Cam Neely, Peter Chiarelli, and Claude Julien. While this may be a mitigating factor, in the end the Bruins should follow their business sense rather than any personal loyalties. (That’s tough for me to say because McQuaid is one of my favorite players.)
Puck Prose
In the end, it makes the most sense for the organization to trade Adam McQuaid. The Bruins have plenty of blueliners that can perform for them in Boston. Too many actually. Kevan Miller has the same skill set, and perhaps even more tenacity and anger than McQuaid, and he is playing for half the price of McQuaid. McQuaid has had two serious injury filled seasons in a row(like Chris Kelly). While that might lower his trade value, there will be at least half a dozen teams looking for veteran defensemen come October. A good training camp would not only help out McQuaid, it would raise his value for Boston.
It looks like the Bruins will be making their moves and their final trades during the preseason games. If McQuaid is bound to leave (which is likely), then that’s when the B’s will trade him.