Grade- B+
Adam McQuaid started the season battling for a roster spot with the big boys. After the 19 games he played last season and early this season it seemed that McQuaid was a poor man's Mark Stuart. He was gritty, tough and wasn't afraid to drop the gloves. In no disrespect to Stuart, it soon became clear that Mark Stuart was a poor man's Adam McQuaid.
McQuaid may only have had 3 goals and 12 assists during the regular season but rubbing out his opponents night in and night out has proven he has what to takes to be a solid NHL defenceman. His consistent play earned him a place on the penalty kill where he was heavily relied apon to keep the puck out of the net. He was at the top of the league with an impressive plus-30 for the season, only three back from league leader and teammate Zdeno Chara.
One of McQuaid's most impressive moments of the season was when he pinched the boards and won a puck battle in game seven against Montreal that helped set up Nathan Horton's series clinching goal. He could be nasty when called apon and placed second on the team in fighting majors behind Shawn Thornton with 12, where he won nearly all of them. Possibly the most memorable aspect on McQuaid's season is his incredible mullet. McQuaid spoke on the 98.5 The Sports Hub's D.A Show and quoted "I plan on cutting it a little bit, but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to. I might not be able to come back in September if I do." Adam, you are absolutely correct!
One of the biggest steals of this offseason is when Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced that the team resigned Adam McQuaid for a 3 year microscopic $4.7 million extension. To have a player of his caliber and potential at only a $1.567 cap hit for the next three years is ridiculous and ingenious.
McQuaid is the type of player that brings back the old "Big Bad Bruins" moniker, but let's all hope he doesn't do his best torpedo impression again like he did against the Flyers. He wouldn't be so gritty and effective with a broken neck hanging out on the ninth floor with Peter and Cam every night