Bergeron shines in return, but McQuaid's role in win should not be overlooked

When the Bruins signed Adam McQuaid to a four-year contract worth $11 million on July 2, 2015, fans couldn’t believe general manager Don Sweeney would give an injury-prone defenseman that kind of term and length.

Wait, I know what you’re thinking: Why would Joey Mac write about Adam McQuaid after Patrice Bergeron returned to action and brought balance and success to the lineup during Boston’s 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks Thursday at TD Garden?

After all, Bergeron registered a four-point night. Rookie Anders Bjork had two goals and an assist. David Krejci had a goal and assist. Oh, and, Brad Marchand extended his point streak to nine points in the last four games.

So, what's the big deal about McQuaid?



It’s simple: He deserves his due. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder has been an integral part of the Bruins’ success. He’s a character guy on the ice and in the room and that’s why his teammates respect the hell out of him. His contributions go unnoticed to many, but not those behind closed doors.

“He’s literally the definition of ‘ultimate teammate,’” Torey Krug told BostonSportsJournal.com after the Bruins' win. “It doesn’t matter if things are going wrong for him personally, or things are going right for him personally, he’s going to get in the way of shots, which was evident tonight. All he worries about is the outcome of the game for the team. It doesn’t matter what his role is, if he’s got a bigger role, smaller role, on every given night all he cares about is his teammates.

“Talk about how he sticks up for teammates and blocks shots ... he’s literally the ultimate teammate.”

The last two games McQuaid has shown what makes him tick. During Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights in Las Vegas, he blocked a shot late in the game and lay motionless on the ice for a few minutes. He needed help off the ice before EMTs hurried into the Bruins’ locker room with an x-ray machine. It didn’t look promising.

McQuaid missed Tuesday’s practice but was back on the ice Wednesday to prepare for the Canucks. When the puck dropped, he was paired with his longtime partner, Torey Krug. Late in the game, with the Bruins holding a two-goal lead, once again McQuaid went down to block a shot. It was evident the shot stung him because he was limping around the ice. On the same shift, he went down again, and this time it was clear he was in serious pain after doing his job.

He couldn’t get off the ice and needed David Backes to help (Riley Nash and Kevan Miller did the honors in Vegas).



Again, McQuaid’s courageous heroics did not go unnoticed.

“Adam McQuaid has been doing that for years around here,” said Bruce Cassidy. “He’s one of the unsung heroes in that locker room. Doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does, the tough parts of the game, blocking shots, sticking up for your teammates. He actually manages the puck very well. He’s not a flashy player. He’s not a guy that just throws it away either. He makes good decisions with it and every team needs Adam McQuaids and we’re certainly fortunate to have him.”

McQuaid’s medical file has more chapters than “Cyrus the Great” and he’ll add plenty more before his career is over. He’s broken numerous bones, has dealt with severe quad and ankle injuries, has suffered his share of concussions, and has undergone more than a few surgeries.

The worst was when he experienced numbness in his shoulder, arm, wrist and hand during the summer after playing a career-high 72 games during the 2012-13 season. Doctors found a blood clot near his collarbone and needed two surgeries before the condition became life-threatening.

He may be injury-prone, but it’s only because of the style he plays.

“This guy’s the definition of a lot of things,” Krug said. “His career is unmatched. There are not many guys in the game that can compare to him. He’s one of a handful of guys around the league – around the world – that’s willing to do such things and put himself in harm’s way.”

It’s easy to point to Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci and David Pastrnak as the elite players on the team, but McQuaid is just as vital to the team’s success as the others.

“He is,” Krug said. “Not only for the team but he’s been a rock for me for the last five years and on the D group we have the most combined games together playing as a pairing. It’s so important what he does for us and he gives us that consistent effort night in and night out.

“Yeah, he might not be making the fancy plays but you know what you’re going to get out of him. When you lose consistent factors like that in the lineup, there are holes that need to be filled he’s a big one. I know he doesn’t have the name of the Bergerons and the Marchands and the flashiness of those guys, but he’s a very crucial part of the team.”

McQuaid is not the only defensemen in the NHL that suffers injuries due to blocking shots. However, it’s the way he does it that stands out as rare. When the puck is in the defensive zone, defensemen box out opponents from the front of the net, while also keeping an eye on the puck to protect themselves.

McQuaid mainly concentrates on the player and not the puck, which puts his body in harm’s way because he doesn’t see the shot coming. That was the case during Sunday’s game in Vegas, and again on Thursday against the Canucks.

For years he’s been wearing protective guards over his skates because he blocks so many shots. Plus, the fact that he’s had ankle surgeries.

“First off, he’s just a great person,” said Miller, who plays a similar style. “He’s an even better teammate. He’ll block a shot and do anything for the team and that’s what he did tonight. We’ve seen a lot of that throughout his whole career and he plays really hard.

“You see guys on the bench celebrating every time he blocks a shot, fights, or makes a good play. He’s a character guy and one we definitely need on the bench.”

Cassidy did not have an update on McQuaid after Thursday’s game, but if he’s out for an extended amount of time, it will have a negative impact on the Bruins.