Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid has been one of the more unlucky players to wear the Black and Gold. The 29-year old McQuaid has been battling injury after injury in his seven years with Boston. McQuaid was briefly knocked unconscious by a hit from Capitals forward Zach Sill at 4:47 in the second period of tonight’s Boston Bruins -Washington Capitals game.
Zach Sill boards Adam McQuaid. McQuaid slow to get up, heads down the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/YWwN594fwx
— Garden Grizzlies (@GardenGrizzlies) January 6, 2016
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It’s a dirty hit. Plain and simple. Sill sees nothing but numbers as he goes into McQuaid’s back. The trainers came out and helped get McQuaid off the ice. To Sill’s credit, he did skate over and appear to apologize for his hit on McQuaid. The refs either all missed it, or somehow believe that the Bruins player chose to turn at the last second. Unbelievable refs, unbelievable.
If that doesn’t grind your gears, there are people on social media (mostly Caps fans) who believe that Rinaldo’s hit on Wilson was as bad as Sill’s hit on McQuaid. So, out of fairness to everyone who didn’t see the two hits, I offer this view of Rinaldo’s very solid (and completely clean hit) on Wilson. Sure, as a Boston Bruins fan I can admit to a bit of bias. However, looking at both hits it’s clear to see which one is clean and which one is not.
Zac Rinaldo sticks Tom Wilson pic.twitter.com/ZklTY6RS1L
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 6, 2016
Once again, McQuaid draws the short end of the stick. This kid just can’t buy his way through a season without taking a serious injury. Concussions, blood clots, broken bones, this guy has seen it all, and it’s a credit to him that he can still play the game.
Hopefully, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety will take a look at this. Sill has never been in trouble before with the DoPS. This is the kind of hit that should get a first-time offender fined. (Had McQuaid done it to Sill, it would be a two game suspension.)
McQuaid has become a dependable blueliner for the B’s. With the absence of Milan Lucic and Shawn Thornton. McQuaid has become the team’s in-house enforcer at the TD Garden. McQuaid has been trying to work his way into top-four minutes as a defenseman, but at the moment is treading water in the bottom pair.
Hopefully McQuaid will be able to bounce back from this injury in the same manner as he has shaken off every other injury that his been thrown his way during his NHL career.