Adam McQuaid: Odd Defender Out

Whatever the Bruins are doing, they need to stick with it. The chemistry seems to be there, they’re taking chances on net and they’re making a presence on the ice – both offensively and defensively.

With this team sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division, there is still a huge question mark sitting over one of their defenders – and that’s Adam McQuaid.

McQuaid suffered a broken leg back in October when he made a bold, maybe even stupid move depending on who you talk to, when he stepped in front of a slap shot from Colin Miller. His timetable was six-to-eight weeks and before we knew it, Quaider was back skating on the ice.

Towards the end of December, McQuaid was cleared to play but Bruce Cassidy kept him out of the lineup. Even after the Christmas break, McQuaid was still not in the lineup.

So what gives?

After struggling to find a good replacement for the defender, Charlestown, MA native Matt Grzelcyk came to the rescue on Nov. 22. He most certainly has exceeded expectations and the team has gone 14-3-2 since he was slotted into the lineup.

With the B’s winning seven of their last eight games, Cassidy and Don Sweeney have a decision to make.

McQuaid is healthy and they can’t keep him on IR forever and they can’t keep saying he’s a game-time decision just to not play him.

Number 54 deserves a chance to play. So in order to make room for him on the roster, Boston could easily place Paul Postma on waivers and send him back to Providence…if he clears waivers and it’s likely he would.

Since Postma has been with the B’s, it seems as if Cassidy has little to no trust in him considering he’s only logged single-digit minutes on the ice in seven of his 12 games played. If he clears, he’ll get his playing time down in Providence and if he’s picked up then the Bruins would have some cap space.

Clearing Postma’s roster spot would then allow McQuaid to slide in there and get the ice time he’s been waiting for since being cleared to play. And he deserves it.

However, with this team clicking on all cylinders, it’s understandable Cassidy doesn’t want to shake up the chemistry of the lines and puts him in a weird situation.

It’s not a bad problem to have, but it certainly makes things interesting because you can’t keep McQuaid away from the ice for much longer.

For once, it’s not McQuaid’s health keeping him from playing hockey – they’re ahead of the Canadiens and second in their division. Cassidy doesn’t want to mess anything up with how this team is playing.

With Grzelcyk helping the team in every way – from scoring goals to only allowing three five-on-five goals when he’s been on the ice, it’s not fair to take time away from him.

However, if Cassidy were to switch Grzelcyk for McQuaid, it would however give them more options on their penalty kill because the team could then go with four defenders, even though they’re doing well with three.

Do you see the problem Cassidy has?

It will be interesting to see when McQuaid actually plays and how he responds. He knows he has to make up for lost time and he knows he is essentially playing for a spot on the ice.

Written by: Lauren Campbell (@lalalalaurrrren)