By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
Earlier today, former Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman as well as 2011 Stanley Cup winner, Adam McQuaid has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.
McQuaid, 34, started his career with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League back in the 2003-04 season. The big, rugged defender played with the Wolves for two seasons before he was drafted 55th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. McQuaid would finish with two more seasons in the OHL before the Blue Jackets would trade him to the Bruins in May 2007 for a 5th-round draft selection.
Following two years with the Providence Bruins, the Cornwall, Prince Edward Island native was called up to the big leagues to finally make his NHL debut in the 09-10 campaign. McQuaid split the year in Providence and Boston but did good enough to earn a full-time spot on the defensive core in the 2010-2011 season.
McQuaid played 67 games for the Black and Gold in 2010-11 and 23 games in the playoffs to help bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston. Quaider helped give the ‘Big Bad Bruins’ feel to the old-school fans and created a strong Bruins roster that needed the physicality and constant hard work to beat the Canadiens, Flyers, Lightning, and Canucks on that 2011 run. During the regular season, Adam set what would be a career-high for most fights in a season with twelve.
Adam McQuaid played 462 regular-season games for the Boston Bruins, scoring 13 goals and 53 assists for 66 points. Of course, no one will remember the legacy of McQuaid for the point production, but rather as I touched upon – his toughness. According to hockeyfights.com, McQuaid fought 55 (!) times in the Spoked-B sweater.
However, McQuaid’s time in Boston would come to an end just before the start of the 2018-19 season. The Bruins moved the 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenceman to the New York Rangers for Steven Kampfer, a 2019 4th Round Pick and a conditional 2019 7th Round Pick.
McQuaid only played in 36 games for Blueshirts before he was once against dealt, this time to the team who originally drafted him in the 2005 Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets for a prospect and a pair of draft picks. McQuaid played only 14 games before he left a game early with what would later be described as a herniated disk, signified the end of his 11-year NHL career. Now, on January 16th, 2021, he officially retires from the sport of hockey.
In an interview with CBC.ca, McQuaid said he will always be a Bruins fan at heart and he still resides in Boston.
“Those Stanley Cup runs, the atmosphere, coming to the rink and that’ll be something no matter what I do I’ll never be able to replicate the energy and the intensity of those games and those moments and those experiences. I’ve got a smile on my face right now thinking about having got to experience those.”
Adam, who recently became a father two weeks ago, also noted that he has “no regrets”. As of now, he is focused on being a father to his newborn son, Roman, and not worried about a new career moving forward in his life after hockey.
On behalf of Boston Bruins fans, we thank you Adam McQuaid for all you did for the Bruins franchise – constantly giving up your body on the ice day in and day out. Best of luck on retirement, Quaider.
Being an Islander and living abroad, combined with the Bruins being my all time favorite team, I was proud to say that Adam was an Islander as well. Loved watching him play. He may not have been an offensive juggernaut but his +/- was excellent. An often overlooked part of his game. You’ll be missed for sure. Enjoy your retirement, your family and your success, you have most definitely earned it. God bless.