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Boston Bruins Top Five Defensemen Midpoint 2016-17

By Brandon Share-Cohen

Dec 31, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) talks to defenseman Torey Krug (47) during practice the day prior to the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) talks to defenseman Torey Krug (47) during practice the day prior to the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Adam McQuaid – 47 Games – One Goal, Two Assists, Three Points – ATOI: 17:31

Mar 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid (54) skates with the puck against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Adam McQuaid. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Adam McQuaid is a tough hockey player. Despite dealing with multiple injuries over the last few seasons, nobody prides themselves on defending his teammates more than McQuaid. On a Bruins team that always defends its own, holding this distinction is admirable.

Though he’s not a top-four defenseman, McQuaid is still a good bottom-pairing player. Unfortunately, the Bruins utilize McQuaid on their second pairing due to a lack of talent on the backend. This isn’t McQuaid’s fault, but in a frustrating time when the Bruins look like they could miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, McQuaid is often the recipient of the fans’ ire.

Related Story: Adam McQuaid Brings Back Old Time Hockey

McQuaid has never been an offensive force. He’s never been the player that the team relies on for points, or even for mobility. What McQuaid does bring to the table, however, is a hard-nosed style player that wears down opponents with his physical play. At six foot four, 212 pounds, McQuaid isn’t afraid to use his size to help his team.

Still, McQuaid very clearly isn’t a top defenseman in the NHL. The Bruins lack of defensive starpower is evident by the ice time that McQuaid receives. While it’s not his fault that he plays in a top-four role, it’s still not encouraging for Bruins fans to see such a stagnant transaction history on the back-end in terms of talent addition. The exception to that would be the drafting of Brandon Carlo – though nobody could have seen him stepping up so soon in his career.

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